Approximately 60,000 people are released from Texas prisons each year. It is important to equip them with the skills necessary to hold stable, law-abiding employment, including by providing them access to vocational training programs prior to release.
HB 3606 (Authors: Leach, Rodriguez, Guillen | Sponsor: Bettencourt), Relating to the provision of vocational training to inmates confined in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice transfer facility. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice must adopt a policy allowing a public or private entity, including a college or university, to provide vocational training on a voluntary basis to individuals confined in a transfer facility. Signed by the Governor; effective on 9/1/2021
HB 4279 (Author: Dominguez | Sponsor: Hinojosa), Relating to the eligibility of the Windham School District to participate in the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program. The Texas Workforce Commission – which administers the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to support career and technical education courses or programs at public colleges, technical institutes, and partnering school districts – can consider, in its grant awards, whether the course or program offers new career and technical educational opportunities not previously available to students enrolled at any campus in the Windham School District. Signed by the Governor; effective on 9/1/2021