88R14449 BDP-D     By: Murr H.B. No. 4921       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of an adult education pilot program   for certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:          (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other law and in   addition to the number of charters allowed under this section and   Subchapter D, the commissioner, on the basis of submitted   proposals, shall grant a charter to a nonprofit entity described by   Section 12.256 to provide an adult education program to inmates   under the pilot program established under Section 493.035,   Government Code.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 493.035 to read as follows:          Sec. 493.035.  ADULT EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  The   department shall establish a pilot program under which one or more   nonprofit entities provide an adult education program under   Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, to enable inmates   described by Subsection (b) to successfully complete:                (1)  a high school program that can lead to a diploma;   and                (2)  career and technology education courses that can   lead to industry certification.          (b)  An inmate who is at least 26 years of age and not more   than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in an adult education   program operated under the pilot program if:                (1)  the inmate:                      (A)  has failed to complete the curriculum   requirements for high school graduation; or                      (B)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an   assessment instrument required for high school graduation; and                (2)  the department approves the inmate's enrollment in   the program after:                      (A)  assessing the inmate's suitability for   participation in the program using the results of the risk and needs   assessment instrument adopted under Section 501.0921; and                      (B)  evaluating the inmate's conduct while in the   custody of the department.          (c)  In admitting inmates to an adult education program   operated under the pilot program, the nonprofit entity shall give   priority to an inmate who has not earned a high school equivalency   certificate.           (d)  The department shall issue a request for proposals from   nonprofit entities described by Section 12.256, Education Code, to   provide an adult education program under the pilot program. The   department shall require that each applicant identify in the   applicant's proposal each region of this state in which the   applicant is able to operate an adult education program under the   pilot program.           (e)  The department shall contract with at least one   qualified applicant to operate an adult education program under the   pilot program.           (f)  The department, in consultation with each nonprofit   entity that the department contracts with under this section, shall   identify at least three and not more than five facilities operated   by the department that are suitable to serve as sites for the pilot   program.           SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice shall establish and implement the   pilot program required by Section 493.035, Government 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, 2023.