81R1321 ALB-D
By: Strama H.B. No. 516
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment and funding of a green job skills
training program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 481.078, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
(l) The fund may be used to make one or more grants to the
Texas Workforce Commission to implement the commission's powers and
duties relating to a green job skills training program.
Subsections (e-1), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) do not apply to a
grant under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 490D to read as follows:
CHAPTER 490D. GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND AND TRAINING
PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 490D.001. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) promote green industry employment opportunities,
including through the establishment of training programs to enhance
green job skills;
(2) foster regional collaboration for the development
of green industry employment opportunities;
(3) assist in the development of a highly skilled and
productive workforce in the green industry; and
(4) assist workers with obtaining education, skills
training, and labor market information to enhance their
employability, earnings, and standard of living.
Sec. 490D.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
Commission.
(2) "Development fund" means the Texas green job
skills development fund.
(3) "Green job" means a job in the field of renewable
energy or energy efficiency, including a job relating to:
(A) energy-efficient building, construction, and
retrofitting;
(B) renewable electric power;
(C) biofuels;
(D) deconstruction and reuse of materials;
(E) energy efficiency assessments;
(F) manufacturing of sustainable products; and
(G) manufacturing using sustainable processes
and materials.
[Sections 490D.003-490D.020 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER B. GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND
Sec. 490D.021. TEXAS GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND.
(a) The Texas green job skills development fund is an account in
the general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
(1) legislative appropriations;
(2) money received from the Texas enterprise fund
under Section 481.078;
(3) gifts, grants, donations, and matching funds
received under Subsection (b); and
(4) other money required by law to be deposited in the
account.
(b) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants,
and donations of money from the federal government, local
governments, private corporations, or other persons to be used for
the purposes of this subchapter.
(c) Income from money in the account shall be credited to
the account.
(d) Money in the development fund may be used only for the
purposes of this chapter.
[Sections 490D.022-490D.030 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER C. GREEN JOB SKILLS GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 490D.031. ESTABLISHMENT OF GREEN JOB SKILLS GRANT
PROGRAM. The commission shall establish a green job skills grant
program, funded by the development fund under Section 490D.021,
through which the commission may award grants for the
implementation, expansion, and operation of green job skills
training programs.
Sec. 490D.032. GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (a) A training
program funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:
(1) be hosted by a regional partnership that includes
at least:
(A) one university, college, or technical
school;
(B) one chamber of commerce, local workforce
agency, local employer, or other public or private participating
entity; and
(C) one economic development authority;
(2) assist an eligible individual in obtaining
education, skills training, and labor market information to enhance
the individual's employability in green industries; and
(3) assist in the development of a highly skilled and
productive workforce in green industries.
(b) A training program awarded a grant under this subchapter
shall target a population of eligible individuals for training that
includes:
(1) workers in high-demand green industries who are in
or preparing for high-wage occupations;
(2) workers in declining industries who may be
retrained for high-wage occupations in a high-demand green
industry;
(3) agriculture, timber, or energy sector workers who
may be retrained for high-wage occupations in a high-demand green
industry;
(4) veterans or past or present members of the armed
forces of the United States, including the state military forces,
or a reserve component of the armed forces or the national guard;
(5) unemployed workers; or
(6) individuals determined by the commission to be
disadvantaged and in need of training to obtain employment.
(c) A training program may receive funding under this
chapter for a period not to exceed three years.
Sec. 490D.033. APPLICATION. (a) A regional partnership,
as described by Section 490D.032, may apply for a grant under this
subchapter in the manner prescribed by the commission.
(b) The grant application must require the applicant to
provide to the commission the applicant's plan to continue to
operate the training program after the grant expires.
Sec. 490D.034. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING
GRANTS. In addition to the factors described by Sections 490D.032
and 490D.033, in determining whether to award a grant to an
applicant under this subchapter, the commission shall give
preference to a training program that provides certification to a
worker who receives green job skills training under the program.
Sec. 490D.035. STANDARDS. The commission by rule shall
adopt standards for a green job skills training program awarded a
grant under this subchapter.
SECTION 3. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules
for the program under Subchapter C, Chapter 490D, Government Code,
as added by this Act, not later than March 1, 2010.
SECTION 4. Implementation of the program under Subchapter
C, Chapter 490D, Government Code, as added by this Act, is
contingent on appropriation of funding by the legislature.
SECTION 5. 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, 2009.