H.B. No. 553

	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of a task force to identify opportunities
	for academic credit and industry recognition for inmates of the
	Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 19, Education Code, is amended by adding
	Section 19.012 to read as follows:
	Sec. 19.012.  TASK FORCE ON ACADEMIC CREDIT AND INDUSTRY
	RECOGNITION. (a) The Windham School District, in consultation
	with the department, shall establish a task force to review the work
	or other productive activities in which persons confined or
	imprisoned in the department engage.
	(b)  The task force is composed of the following 10 members:
	(1)  two representatives of the department designated
	by the executive director of the department;
	(2)  one representative of the district designated by
	the superintendent of the district;
	(3)  one representative of the Texas Higher Education
	Coordinating Board designated by the commissioner of higher
	education;
	(4)  one representative of the Texas Workforce
	Commission designated by the executive director of the commission;
	(5)  one representative of a private vendor operating a
	correctional facility under a contract with the department,
	appointed by the governor;
	(6)  three representatives of public junior colleges,
	as defined by Section 61.003, appointed by the governor, including:
	(A)  at least one representative of a public
	junior college that provides education services to persons confined
	or imprisoned in the department; and
	(B)  at least one representative of a public
	junior college that does not provide services described by
	Paragraph (A); and
	(7)  one representative of a faith-based organization,
	appointed by the governor.
	(c)  The governor shall designate a member of the task force
	to serve as presiding officer.
	(d)  A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same
	manner as the initial appointment.
	(e)  The task force may accept gifts and grants from any
	source to be used to carry out a function of the task force.
	(f)  The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding
	officer.
	(g)  The task force shall:
	(1)  conduct an ongoing comprehensive review of the
	work or other productive activities in which persons confined or
	imprisoned in the department engage; and
	(2)  identify opportunities for the award of high
	school credit, college credit, or joint high school and college
	credit, or the award of an industry-recognized credential or
	certificate, for engaging in that work or activity.
	(h)  The district, in consultation with the department, the
	Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
	Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall for any type of
	work or productive activity for which an opportunity is identified
	under Subsection (g), determine the actions necessary for obtaining
	the award of the applicable academic credit or industry
	recognition.
	(i)  Not later than September 1, 2021, the task force shall
	submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
	house of representatives, and the standing committees of the
	legislature having jurisdiction over the department a report that
	summarizes the review conducted under Subsection (g) and the
	district's actions with regard to obtaining the award of academic
	credit or industry recognition under Subsection (h). The district
	shall provide the task force with any information necessary to
	complete the report.
	(j)  This section expires December 1, 2021.
	SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2017, the executive
	director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the
	superintendent of the Windham School District, the commissioner of
	higher education, the executive director of the Texas Workforce
	Commission, and the governor shall appoint members to the task
	force established by Section 19.012, Education Code, as added by
	this Act, in the manner required by Subsection (b) of that section.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 553 was passed by the House on May 6,
	2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 553 on May 26, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2
	present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 553 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
	0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor