H.B. No. 700
AN ACT
relating to the use of the skills development fund by certain
entities and a study and report regarding the effectiveness of that
fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 303.001(a), Labor Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The purpose of this chapter is to remove administrative
barriers that impede the response of public community and technical
colleges, community-based organizations, local workforce
development boards, and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
to industry and workforce training needs and to develop incentives
for public community and technical colleges, community-based
organizations, local workforce development boards, and the Texas
A&M Engineering Extension Service to provide customized assessment
and training in a timely and efficient manner.
SECTION 2. Section 303.002(b), Labor Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A public community or technical college or the Texas A&M
Engineering Extension Service may recover customized assessment
and training costs incurred by the institution if:
(1) there is an actual or projected labor shortage in
the occupation in which training is provided that is not being met
by an existing institution or program in the area; and
(2) the wages at the time of job placement for
individuals who successfully complete customized training at the
public community or technical college or the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service are equal to the prevailing wage for that
occupation in the local labor market area.
SECTION 3. Sections 303.003(b), (f), (g), and (h), Labor
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) The skills development fund may be used by public
community and technical colleges, community-based organizations,
local workforce development boards, and the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service as start-up or emergency funds for the following
job-training purposes:
(1) developing customized training programs for
businesses and trade unions; and
(2) sponsoring small and medium-sized business
networks and consortiums.
(f) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall focus
the service's training activities under this chapter on programs
that:
(1) are statewide in nature; or
(2) are not available from a local junior college
district, a local technical college, or a consortium of junior
college districts.
(g) This section does not prohibit the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service from participating in a consortium of junior
college districts or with a technical college that provides
training under this chapter.
(h) A community-based organization may apply for money to
participate in a training program only in partnership with a
community and technical college or the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service. A community-based organization providing
services regulated by the state shall provide evidence of any
certification, license, or registration required by law.
SECTION 4. (a) The Texas Workforce Commission shall
conduct a study on and develop recommendations for increasing the
effectiveness of the skills development fund established under
Chapter 303, Labor Code. The recommendations must include
strategies for better achieving the fund's purposes, improving
outcomes, and expanding participation in the opportunities
available through the fund.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2020, the Texas Workforce
Commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the
legislative committees with appropriate jurisdiction a report
detailing the commission's findings and recommendations under
Subsection (a) of this section.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 700 was passed by the House on April
26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 127, Nays 12, 2 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 700 on May 17, 2019, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 700 on May 26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 111,
Nays 28, 2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 700 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 14, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays
6; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
700 on May 26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor