PAYMENT OF PROGRAM AND CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION EXPENSES.

(a) Except as provided by this section or other law, a state agency may spend public funds as appropriate to pay the salary, tuition and other fees, travel and living expenses, training stipend, expense of training materials, and other necessary expenses of an instructor, student, or other participant in a training or education program.

(a-1) A state agency may spend public funds as appropriate to reimburse a state agency employee or administrator who serves in an information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related position for fees associated with industry-recognized certification examinations.

(b) For an administrator or employee of a state agency who seeks reimbursement for a training or education program offered by an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, the agency may only pay the tuition expenses for a program course successfully completed by the administrator or employee at an accredited institution of higher education.

(c) A state agency that spends more than $5,000 in a state fiscal year for a training or education program for any individual administrator or employee shall, not later than August 31 of that year, submit to the Legislative Budget Board a report including:

(1) a list of the administrators and employees participating in a training or education program;

(2) the amount spent on each administrator or employee; and

(3) the certification earned by each administrator or employee through the training or education program.