Updated 5/15/09.  Click on the bill number to track legislation.  When you get to that webpage, click on "Text" to read the bill. You can read the most current language and track its progress and actions taken throughout the legislative process.  This list will be updated periodically.  Put your cursor over bill number to link to bill records and language.   

The Conference Committee on the $180 billion budget will begin hashing out their differences in the next few weeks.

Five members from each chamber will be selected for the Conference Committee on SB 3 and HB 3 to develop a final piece of legislation to send to the governor.

HOUSE BILLS

HB 3 by Eissler – (identical to SB 3) relating to public school accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements.  Passed out of full house with approx. 60 amendments. Click here to read amendments.  Sent to Senate Education Committee.  5/12/09 heard in Senate Ed Committee and was substituted with SB 3.

 Accountability bill.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.. Left pending in committee.  Passed out of committee and passed out of full Senate as amended.

SENATE BILLS

SB 3 by Shapiro - Relating to public school accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements (graduation requirements).  (House companion bill {identical} by Eissler - HB 3).  Passed out of full Senate.  Sent to House.  5/5/09 sent to House Public Education Committee.

SR 184 by Shapiro - Resolution:  Celebrating February 16, 2009, as Texas SkillsUSA Day at the State Capitol.  Passed.

SB 440 by Ellis – relating to transferring the statutorily assigned functions and activities of the State Board of Education to the Texas Education Agency.  Referred to Senate Education Cmte.

SB 1312 by Shapiro - Relating to programs and funding to support adult and postsecondary education and workforce development at public junior colleges and public technical institutes.  Referred to Higher Education Cmte.

SB 1313 by Shapiro - Relating to the quality and accessibility of public school career and technical education programs.  Referred to Senate Education Cmte.  Committee substitute left pending in committee.  Scheduled for 2nd public hearing on 4/14/09.  SB 1312 by Shapiro and SB 1549 by Van de Putte amended to SB 1313.  Passed full Senate.  Sent to House.  Referred to Public Education Committee.  Heard in Public Education 5/12/09 and was left pending due to a proposed amendment.  Passed out of cmte without amendments.

SB 1549 by Van de Putte - Relating to the calculation by a school district of a high school student's grade point average.  (As you will recall, THECB did not want to give certain CTE courses a high school GPA.  Referred to Senate Education Cmte.  Passed out of committee.  Referred to Local & Uncontested Calendar (to be heard in Senate).  Amended onto SB 3.  Passed full Senate.  Sent to House.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

SB 1955 by Hegar/et al. – relating to career and technical eduction in the public schools and high school graduation requirements.

Very similar bill to HB 2417 by Keffer.  Referred to Senate Education Cmte.

SB 2086 by Davis, Wendy – relating to the essential high school program and to the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced public high school programs.

Establishes CTE track, hower math & science requirements.  Referred to Senate Education Cmte.

SB 2258 by Zaffirini – relating to intensive summer programs for public school students and to college readiness programs at ublic institutions of higher education.  Grants to summer programs that promote college/workforce readiness for at-risk students.  Referred to Senate Education Cmte.  Passed out of committee as well as full Senate.

SB 2267 by Gallegos – relating to eligibility for an award through the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program.

Early High School Graduation Scholarship for students in agriculture/fishing.  Referred to Higher Education Cmte.  Passed out of committee.

SB 2405 – Zaffirini – relating to a pilot program to expand access to career and technical education partnerships in rural areas.

Companion bill to Keffer's HB 4245.  Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs Cmte.  Scheduled to be heard in committee 5/4/09.  Passed out of committee and passed full Senate.  5/12/09 sent to the House; referred to House Agriculture & Livestock Cmte.

COSMETOLOGY BILLS

HB 449 by J Jackson - (cosmetology) relating to the regulation of laser hair removal facilities.  Referred to Public Health Cmte.  Committee substitute passed out.  Passed full House.  Sent to Senate.  Passed out of Senate Health & Human Services Cmte favorably as substituted.

HB 2548 by Kuempel – Relating to membership of certain advisory bodies to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures Cmte.

Adds two public members to cosmetology advisory board.   In committee hearing: amended to add one member who represents a licensed public secondary or postsecondary beauty culture and one public member.    Amended to read one public member and one member from a licensed public secondary or postsecondary beauty culture school.  Committee substitute passed out.  Sent to Calendars Cmte.  Passed full House and sent to Senate; referred to Senate Business & Commerce Committee.

HB 3910 by Madden – relating to the requirements to obtain a license to practice cosmetology.  Creates an apprenticeship program. 

Turns TDLR into the rule-making authority for the course of study and number of hours of instruction required to obtain a cosmetology license.  Adds apprenticeship in a beauty shop.  Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures Cmte.   Left pending in committee.

HB 4195 by Legler – Relating to the membership of the Advisory Board on Cosmetology.  Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures Cmte.  Similar to SB 1920 by Jackson.  Scheduled to be heard 4/15/09.  passed out of committee.  Sent to Local & Consent Calendar committee.  5/15/09 laid on Senate table subject to call.

SB 1920 by Jackson, Mike – Relating to the membership of the Advisory Board on Cosmetology.  Referred to Business & Commerce Cmte.  Passed out.  Passed full Senate.  Sent to House.  Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures Cmte.  Passed out of committee.  Sent to Local & Consent Calendar.  HB 4195 laid out in lieu of companion.  Passed full House.

SB 2056 by Williams – Relating to membership of certain advisory bodies to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  Referred to Business & Commerce Cmte.

HB 1025 by Edwards – relating to preparation of public school students to enter the workforce.  Referred to Technology, Economic Development, Workforce Cmte. 

HB 1085 by Edwards – relating to an after-school pilot program offered by school districts to middle and junior high school students and their parents to prepare students for postsecondary education and training.  Establishes after-school pilot to prepare jr high students for college/workforce.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 1102 by Vo – relating to the requirements for the recommended and advanced public high school programs.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 1216 by F Brown – relating to curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced public high school programs.  Referred to ublic Education Cmte.

HB 1235 by Mendenez – relating to establishing the Legislative Education Board and transferring to the Legislative Education Board the statutorily assigned functions and activities of the State Board of Education and certain functions of the Legislative Budget Board.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 1503 – Veasey/et al. – relating to the high school graduation requirements.

Public Education Cmte.

HB 1848 by Lucio III - Relating to the establishment of a pilot program under which high school students may accrue prepaid tuition units at public institutions of higher education by completing certain community service activities.  Referred to Higher Education Cmte.

HB 2471 by Keffer - relating to career and technical education in the public schools and high school graduation requirements. Referred to Public Education Cmte.  Committee substitute left pending in Public Education Cmte.

HB 2538 by Guillen – relating to the career and technology education program.

Referred to Public Education Cmte. 

HB 3382 by Coleman – relating to transferring the statutorily assigned functions and activities of the State Board of Education to the Texas Education Agency.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 3570 by Olivo – relating to the provision of career and technology education as an optional supplement to the general academic program provided by public schools.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 3714 by King, Susan – relating to public school career and technology education program curriculum and funding and to development of a list of high-demand occupations for career and technology education students.

Bill contains $50 per CTE student coded 2 or 3; also asks for money to pay for certification exam fees.  Reffered to Public Education Cmte.  Committee substitute left pending in committee.

HB 4013 by Weber – relating to exempting certain school districts from certain laws and rules.

Exemplary/Recognized ISDs exempt from class size 22 to 1: can use CTE allotment for anything.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 4150 by Rose – relating to the collection and provision of information concerning public school career and technology education programs.

Includes best practices clearinghouse.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

HB 4245 by Keffer – relating to a pilot program to expand access to career and technical education partnerships in rural areas, increasing their CTE funding and paying for student's certification/license exam upon passing.

Expand CTE partnerships in rural areas. Identical bill SB 2405 by Zaffirini.   Referred to Agriculture and Livestock Cmte.  Left pending in committee.  Passed out of committee.  Sent to Calendars Cmte.  5/11/09 waiting to be heard in House.

HB 4671 by Guillen – relating to funding for career and technology education programs in public schools.  Extends weighted funding to 8^th grade; CTSOs are integral part of CTE program.  Referred to Public Education Cmte.

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