H.B. No. 2729         AN ACT   relating to an inventory of credentials and certificates that may   be earned by a public high school student through a career and   technology education program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 29.189 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.189.  INVENTORY OF CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATES.   (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce   Commission.                (2)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.          (b)  The agency, the coordinating board, and the commission   shall jointly develop and post on their respective Internet   websites an inventory of industry-recognized credentials and   certificates that may be earned by a public high school student   through a career and technology education program and that:                (1)  are aligned to state and regional workforce needs;   and                (2)  serve as an entry point to middle- and high-wage   jobs.          (c)  The inventory must include for each credential or   certificate:                (1)  the associated career cluster;                (2)  the awarding entity;                (3)  the level of education required and any additional   requirements for the credential or certificate;                (4)  any fees for obtaining the credential or   certificate; and                (5)  the average wage or salary for jobs that require or   prefer the credential or certificate.          (d)  Each year, the agency, the coordinating board, and the   commission jointly shall:                (1)  review and, if necessary, update the inventory;   and                (2)  provide a copy of the inventory to each school   district and public institution of higher education that offers a   career and technology education program to public high school   students.          SECTION 2.  Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas   Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,   and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly develop and post   on their respective Internet websites the inventory required under   Section 29.189, 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, 2017.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2729 was passed by the House on April   20, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 2729 was passed by the Senate on May   24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor