89R3329 KJE-D     By: Bucy H.B. No. 433       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Higher Education and   Corrections Council.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Education Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 64 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 64. HIGHER EDUCATION AND CORRECTIONS COUNCIL   SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS          Sec. 64.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Career school or college" has the meaning   assigned by Section 132.001.                (2)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.                (3)  "Council" means the Higher Education and   Corrections Council.                (4)  "Department" means the Texas Department of   Criminal Justice.                (5)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.   SUBCHAPTER B. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL          Sec. 64.051.  ESTABLISHMENT. The Higher Education and   Corrections Council is established to help coordinate and make   recommendations to the coordinating board and the department   regarding educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals.          Sec. 64.052.  COUNCIL MEMBERS. (a)  The council consists of   the following 11 members:                (1)  a member of the house of representatives appointed   by the speaker of the house of representatives;                (2)  a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant   governor;                (3)  the following members appointed by the   commissioner of higher education:                      (A)  an employee of the coordinating board;                      (B)  an employee of a career school or college;                      (C)  an employee of an institution of higher   education;                      (D)  a researcher who studies higher education in   correctional facilities;                      (E)  a formerly incarcerated individual who   participated in higher education programs while incarcerated in a   prison in this state; and                      (F)  the executive director of a nonprofit   organization engaged in criminal justice work in this state or the   executive director's designee;                (4)  the executive director of the department or the   executive director's designee;                (5)  an employee of the department appointed by the   executive director of the department; and                (6)  the executive director of the Texas Workforce   Commission or the executive director's designee.          (b)  A council member serves at the will of the appointing   authority.          Sec. 64.053.  MEMBER TERMS. Council members serve staggered   two-year terms, with six members' terms expiring February 1 of each   odd-numbered year and five members' terms expiring February 1 of   each even-numbered year.          Sec. 64.054.  VACANCY. A vacancy on the council is filled in   the same manner as the initial appointment.          Sec. 64.055.  CO-CHAIRS. The council members appointed by   the speaker of the house of representatives and the lieutenant   governor serve as co-chairs of the council.          Sec. 64.056.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.  A council member   is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses   incurred in performing council duties.   SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES OF COUNCIL          Sec. 64.101.  GENERAL DUTIES. The council shall:                (1)  coordinate, facilitate, and support the delivery   of higher education in correctional facilities in this state to   prepare incarcerated individuals for integration and productive   employment on release;                (2)  explore and make recommendations for the efficient   and effective delivery of higher education programs to incarcerated   individuals, including:                      (A)  evidence-based practices and technologies;                      (B)  methods of maximizing and facilitating   access to educational programs;                      (C)  methods of supporting and facilitating   timely completion of courses and certificate and degree programs;                      (D)  methods of emphasizing educational programs   that:                            (i)  align with current and future workforce   demands in this state;                            (ii)  lead to occupations that are   accessible to formerly incarcerated individuals;                            (iii)  provide sustainable wages after   release; and                            (iv)  maximize accessibility and timely   completion during incarceration;                      (E)  use of cross-institutional coursework   application toward certificate and degree programs;                      (F)  use of coursework that encourages personal   and civic development; and                      (G)  methods of leveraging innovative course   delivery, including technology resources;                (3)  explore methods and make recommendations for the   collection and analysis of critical data regarding:                      (A)  enrollment and completion of higher   education courses, credentials, and certificate and degree   programs;                      (B)  federal and state student aid awarded to   incarcerated individuals;                      (C)  costs of higher education in correctional   facilities, including any recommendations for continued   improvement; and                      (D)  outcomes of formerly incarcerated   individuals who participated in higher education programming   during incarceration and are on parole, including recidivism,   employment, and post-release higher education engagement; and                (4)  make recommendations regarding legislative   appropriations requests to support the council's purposes and   objectives.          Sec. 64.102.  REPORT. Not later than November 1 of each   even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the legislature,   the coordinating board, and the department a report regarding the   council's duties under this chapter during the preceding two years   and any recommendations for legislative or other action.  The   report must include:                (1)  the number of incarcerated individuals enrolled in   higher education; and                (2)  the number of incarcerated individuals who   received a certificate or degree.          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the appointing authorities shall make the initial   appointments required under Section 64.052, 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, 2025.