85R3245 JG-D     By: Miles S.B. No. 677       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   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 seven   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; and                (6)  one representative of a public junior college, as   defined by Section 61.003, 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)  A member of the task force may not receive compensation   for service on the task force, but is entitled to reimbursement for   actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force   duties.          (f)  The task force may accept gifts and grants from any   source to be used to carry out a function of the task force.          (g)  The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call   of the presiding officer and at other times as determined by the   presiding officer.          (h)  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.          (i)  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 (h), determine the actions necessary for obtaining   the award of the applicable academic credit or industry   recognition.          (j)  Not less than once every four years, 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 (h) and the   district's actions with regard to obtaining the award of academic   credit or industry recognition under Subsection (i). The district   shall provide the task force with any information necessary to   complete the report.          (k)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   task force established under this section.          (l)  The task force shall submit the first report required   under Subsection (j) not later than December 31, 2020. This   subsection expires February 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.