Sec. 19.012. TASK FORCE ON ACADEMIC CREDIT AND INDUSTRY RECOGNITION. (a) The Windham School District, in consultation with the department, shall establish a task force to review the work or other productive activities in which persons confined or imprisoned in the department engage.

(b) The task force is composed of the following 10 members:

(1) two representatives of the department designated by the executive director of the department;

(2) one representative of the district designated by the superintendent of the district;

(3) one representative of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board designated by the commissioner of higher education;

(4) one representative of the Texas Workforce Commission designated by the executive director of the commission;

(5) one representative of a private vendor operating a correctional facility under a contract with the department, appointed by the governor;

(6) three representatives of public junior colleges, as defined by Section 61.003, appointed by the governor, including:

(A) at least one representative of a public junior college that provides education services to persons confined or imprisoned in the department; and

(B) at least one representative of a public junior college that does not provide services described by Paragraph (A); and

(7) one representative of a faith-based organization, appointed by the governor.

(c) The governor shall designate a member of the task force to serve as presiding officer.

(d) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.

(e) The task force may accept gifts and grants from any source to be used to carry out a function of the task force.

(f) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.

(g) The task force shall:

(1) conduct an ongoing comprehensive review of the work or other productive activities in which persons confined or imprisoned in the department engage; and

(2) identify opportunities for the award of high school credit, college credit, or joint high school and college credit, or the award of an industry-recognized credential or certificate, for engaging in that work or activity.

(h) The district, in consultation with the department, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall for any type of work or productive activity for which an opportunity is identified under Subsection (g), determine the actions necessary for obtaining the award of the applicable academic credit or industry recognition.

(i) Not later than September 1, 2021, the task force shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing committees of the legislature having jurisdiction over the department a report that summarizes the review conducted under Subsection (g) and the district's actions with regard to obtaining the award of academic credit or industry recognition under Subsection (h). The district shall provide the task force with any information necessary to complete the report.

(j) This section expires December 1, 2021.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1148 (H.B. 553), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.