89R1770 AMF-D     By: Guillen H.B. No. 2689       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of an intensive workforce readiness   adult education pilot program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as   follows:          (c)  Subject to Subsections [Subsection] (d) and (e), the   commissioner may not grant more than 10 charters under this   subchapter.          (e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other law and in   addition to the number of charters allowed under this section and   Subchapter D, the commissioner shall, on the basis of an   application submitted, grant a charter to an eligible entity to   provide an intensive workforce readiness adult education program   under the pilot program established under Section 12.266.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 12.266 to read as follows:          Sec. 12.266.  INTENSIVE WORKFORCE READINESS PILOT PROGRAM.   (a) The agency shall establish a pilot program under which one or   more eligible entities provides an intensive workforce readiness   adult education program to enable an individual described by   Section 12.258 to successfully complete:                 (1)  a program that leads to a high school diploma or a   high school equivalency certificate; and                 (2)  career and technology courses leading to:                       (A)  at least one industry certification or   license; and                       (B)  at least one certification or license in an   occupation identified by the local workforce development board as a   high demand occupation in the area.           (b)  The agency shall request applications from eligible   entities to provide an adult education program under the pilot   program. The agency shall require each applicant to identify:                (1)  the local workforce development board serving the   area in which the applicant intends to operate an adult education   program under the pilot program and the high demand occupations in   that area as identified by the board; and                (2)  each industry certification or license an   individual who successfully completes the program is eligible to   receive.           SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2026, the Texas   Education Agency shall establish and implement the pilot program   required by Section 12.266, Education Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  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, 2025.