Bill > HB433

This bill establishes the Higher Education and Corrections Council, a new 11-member body designed to improve educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals in Texas. The council will include representatives from the legislature, higher education institutions, career schools, criminal justice agencies, and a formerly incarcerated individual. Its primary responsibilities include coordinating and supporting higher education programs in correctional facilities, exploring ways to maximize access to educational programs, and developing recommendations that focus on workforce-aligned courses leading to sustainable employment for formerly incarcerated individuals. The council will specifically investigate methods to improve educational program delivery, collect and analyze critical data about incarcerated students' enrollment, completion rates, and post-release outcomes, and submit a biennial report to the legislature detailing the number of incarcerated individuals enrolled in higher education and those who have received certificates or degrees. Council members will serve two-year staggered terms and will not receive compensation, reflecting a commitment to improving educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals without additional financial burden to the state. The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature, or on September 1, 2025, if it does not.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB433