By: Creighton, et al. S.B. No. 1102
(Parker)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and
Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce
education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter T-2 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER T-2. TEXAS RESKILLING AND UPSKILLING THROUGH EDUCATION
(TRUE) PROGRAM
Sec. 61.881. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Eligible entity" means:
(A) a public junior college or public technical
institute;
(B) a consortium of public junior colleges or
public technical institutes; or
(C) a local chamber of commerce, trade
association, or economic development corporation that partners
with a public junior college or public technical institute or a
consortium of public junior colleges or public technical
institutes.
(2) "Program" means the Texas Reskilling and
Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program established under this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.882. ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION; PURPOSE. (a)
The Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE)
Program is established to strengthen the Texas workforce and build
a stronger Texas economy.
(b) The board shall administer the program in accordance
with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter.
(c) Under the program, using funds appropriated or
otherwise available for the purpose, the board shall award grants
to eligible entities for creating, redesigning, or expanding
workforce training programs and delivering education and workforce
training that:
(1) lead to postsecondary industry certifications or
other workforce credentials required for high-demand occupations;
(2) are developed and provided in consultation with
employers who are hiring in high-demand occupations; and
(3) create pathways to employment for students and
learners.
(d) In awarding grants under this subchapter, the board:
(1) shall, to the greatest extent practicable:
(A) award grants to at least one eligible entity
in each region of the state; and
(B) ensure that each training program:
(i) matches regional workforce needs;
(ii) is supported by a labor market
analysis of job postings and employers hiring roles with the skills
developed by the program; and
(iii) does not duplicate existing program
offerings within the region; and
(2) may give preference to applicants that:
(A) represent a consortium of public junior
colleges and public technical institutes;
(B) prioritize training to displaced workers;
(C) offer affordable training programs to
students; or
(D) partner with local chambers of commerce,
trade associations, economic development corporations, and local
workforce boards to analyze job postings and identify employers
hiring roles with the skills developed by the training programs.
Sec. 61.883. USE OF GRANT. (a) A grant awarded to an
eligible entity under this subchapter may be used only for the
support and maintenance of educational and general activities that
promote workforce learning, including:
(1) providing training in existing, new, or redesigned
accelerated programs that teach high-demand skills and lead to
postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
credentials valued in growing occupations;
(2) developing new industry-aligned, high-demand
postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
credentials and certificate programs or other courses of
instruction leading to those certifications or credentials that can
be completed in six months or less;
(3) redesigning existing postsecondary industry
certifications or credentials and certificate programs or other
courses of instruction leading to those certifications or
credentials to meet the standards under Subdivision (2);
(4) expanding institutional capacity to provide
high-demand postsecondary industry certifications or other
workforce credentials that are stackable in high-demand career
pathways and address the needs of high-demand occupations
identified by the Texas Workforce Commission or applicable local
workforce development boards;
(5) providing student aid awards to incentivize
enrollment in and completion of industry-aligned, high-demand
postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
credentials and certificate programs or other courses of
instruction leading to those certifications or credentials; and
(6) tracking and reporting enrollment, credential
completion, and employment outcomes for students in courses and
programs described by this subsection to gauge the impact on
student success.
(b) Money received by an eligible entity under the program
in a fiscal year that is not used by the entity in that fiscal year
may be held and used by the entity in the subsequent fiscal year for
the purposes prescribed in this section if the entity provides to
the board a reasonable explanation for holding and using the money
in the subsequent fiscal year.
Sec. 61.884. RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS. (a)
The board, in collaboration with eligible entities, the Texas
Workforce Commission, and private employers, shall identify
existing and develop new postsecondary industry certifications or
other workforce credentials valued in high-demand occupations.
(b) The board, in consultation with eligible entities,
shall:
(1) identify postsecondary industry certifications or
other workforce credentials developed or redesigned using grant
funds under the program; and
(2) establish methods for collecting and reporting
data related to the certifications or credentials identified under
Subdivision (1).
(c) An eligible entity awarded a grant under this subchapter
may recommend outcomes related to the achievement or development of
postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
credentials identified under this section to be considered by the
board for inclusion in the state's long-range master plan for
higher education developed under Section 61.051.
(d) In devising its funding formulas and making its
recommendations to the legislature relating to institutional
appropriations of funds for public junior colleges and public
technical institutes under Section 61.059, the board shall
incorporate the consideration of the achievement or development of
postsecondary industry certifications and other workforce
credentials identified under this section.
Sec. 61.885. GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may
solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any
public or private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 61.886. RULES. The board shall adopt rules for the
administration of this subchapter, including rules requiring
eligible entities awarded a grant under this subchapter to report
necessary information to the board.
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Act.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
award grants under Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61, Education Code, as
added by this Act, beginning with the 2021 fall semester.
SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates
money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the coordinating
board may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other
appropriations available for that purpose.
SECTION 4. 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, 2021.