H.B. No. 2729

	AN ACT
	relating to an inventory of credentials and certificates that may
	be earned by a public high school student through a career and
	technology education program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 29.189 to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.189.  INVENTORY OF CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATES.
	(a)  In this section:
	(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
	Commission.
	(2)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
	Education Coordinating Board.
	(b)  The agency, the coordinating board, and the commission
	shall jointly develop and post on their respective Internet
	websites an inventory of industry-recognized credentials and
	certificates that may be earned by a public high school student
	through a career and technology education program and that:
	(1)  are aligned to state and regional workforce needs;
	and
	(2)  serve as an entry point to middle- and high-wage
	jobs.
	(c)  The inventory must include for each credential or
	certificate:
	(1)  the associated career cluster;
	(2)  the awarding entity;
	(3)  the level of education required and any additional
	requirements for the credential or certificate;
	(4)  any fees for obtaining the credential or
	certificate; and
	(5)  the average wage or salary for jobs that require or
	prefer the credential or certificate.
	(d)  Each year, the agency, the coordinating board, and the
	commission jointly shall:
	(1)  review and, if necessary, update the inventory;
	and
	(2)  provide a copy of the inventory to each school
	district and public institution of higher education that offers a
	career and technology education program to public high school
	students.
	SECTION 2.  Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas
	Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
	and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly develop and post
	on their respective Internet websites the inventory required under
	Section 29.189, Education Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2729 was passed by the House on April
	20, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2729 was passed by the Senate on May
	24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor