89R6304 RAL-D     By: Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 3920       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the recognition of career and technology education   programs by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 51, Occupations Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter K to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER K. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS          Sec. 51.551.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Career and technology education program" means:                      (A)  a career and technology education program   under Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code; or                      (B)  a program determined by the department to be   similar to that described by Paragraph (A) and offered by:                            (i)  an institution of higher education; or                            (ii)  a private school, as defined by   Section 5.001, Education Code.                (2)  "Institution of higher education" means an   institution of higher education or a private or independent   institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by   Section 61.003, Education Code.          Sec. 51.552.  CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM   RECOGNITION. The commission shall adopt rules providing for the   recognition of career and technology education programs for   programs regulated by the department.  The rules must:                (1)  specify how completion of a career and technology   education program will be credited toward licensing for the   applicable program;                 (2)  establish who is eligible to provide instruction   in a career and technology education program for purposes of this   section; and                (3)  establish standards for the essential knowledge   and skills of a career and technology education program, subject to   the approval of the State Board of Education if the courses are to   be offered in a high school, that include:                      (A)  requiring the program to consist of an   appropriate number of hours of classroom instruction and a   practical component;                      (B)  providing for crediting appropriate   on-the-job training toward meeting the requirements of the   practical component; and                      (C)  prohibiting a career and technology   education program offered by an institution of higher education   from being more stringent than a program offered by a public high   school.          SECTION 2.  In developing the initial standards for a career   and technology education program under Section 51.552, Occupations   Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and   Regulation shall consult with the Texas State Technical College and   relevant interest groups.          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.