87R4252 KSD-F
By: Alvarado S.B. No. 1184
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Commission on Texas Workforce of the
Future.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter Z-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER Z-1. COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE
Sec. 29.951. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
means the Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future.
Sec. 29.952. COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE.
(a) The Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future is established
to engage business, state agencies, and local workforce system
partners in the efforts of state and local authorities to build the
state's workforce talent pipeline.
(b) The commission members shall provide reliable and
accurate data pertinent to college and career readiness,
industry-based workforce credentials, associate and bachelor's
degree programs, and high-demand industry jobs and careers.
(c) The commission is composed of 17 members as follows:
(1) five members appointed by the governor;
(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives;
(4) the commissioner of higher education or the
commissioner's designee;
(5) a commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission
appointed by the chair of the Texas Workforce Commission, or the
commissioner's designee;
(6) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee;
and
(7) the chair of the Texas Economic Development
Corporation.
(d) The members appointed by the governor must have an
interest in the future of the state's workforce. At least one of
the members appointed by the governor must be a member of a
statewide labor federation. In appointing the members, the
governor shall consider appointing a business leader representing
each of the following industries:
(1) oil and gas;
(2) technology and manufacturing;
(3) health care;
(4) construction; and
(5) petrochemicals.
(e) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor must
include:
(1) two members of the senate;
(2) an administrator in a kindergarten through 12th
grade public school system or an elected member of the board of
trustees of a school district; and
(3) the superintendent of an adult education program
provided under an adult high school diploma and industry
certification charter school program under Section 29.259, or the
superintendent's designee.
(f) The appointments made by the speaker of the house of
representatives must include:
(1) two members of the house of representatives;
(2) a representative of a high school dropout recovery
adult education program serving students who are at least 18 years
of age and not older than 25 years of age or a public school
superintendent who oversees a high school dropout recovery adult
education program; and
(3) an administrator of a public community or
technical college or a public university in this state.
(g) In making appointments under Subsection (c), the
governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the members they
appoint reflect, to the extent possible, the ethnic and geographic
diversity of this state.
Sec. 29.953. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate the presiding officer of the commission. The presiding
officer must be a business executive.
Sec. 29.954. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the
commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
Sec. 29.955. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a)
Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support
for the commission.
(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency.
Sec. 29.956. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall
develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues
related to workforce development and the future of the state's
workforce, including:
(1) strengthening and supporting industry-led
public-private partnerships that connect people with careers and
match employers with skilled talent;
(2) improving regional coordination and alignment
between industry, the public workforce system, public schools,
higher education institutions, and community-based organizations
to create college and career pathways that lead to good jobs;
(3) attracting, educating, developing, and placing
workers in high-demand industry sectors;
(4) addressing the current and future skills gap
across the state economy and identifying statewide initiatives to
enhance cross-sector collaboration, communication, and alignment;
(5) identifying incentives to encourage cooperation
between sectors that fosters innovative approaches to meet the
current and future workforce demands;
(6) increasing the number of work-based learning
opportunities in this state and the availability of those
opportunities, including for persons experiencing barriers to
employment and who are historically underrepresented in
high-growth, high-wage industries, including in small and midsize
companies;
(7) developing a comprehensive plan for phasing in,
beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, an expansion of the adult
high school diploma and industry certification charter school
program under Section 29.259 as a strategy for meeting industry
needs for a sufficiently trained workforce within this state; and
(8) recommending statutory changes to the laws
governing the public workforce system, public education, and higher
education to enhance career path options and ensure long-term
collaboration with industry.
(b) The commission shall establish one or more work groups
composed of not more than five members of the commission to study,
discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to
refer to the commission for consideration. In establishing a work
group under this subsection, the commission shall ensure that the
membership of the work group includes at least two representatives
from the business community.
Sec. 29.957. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the
commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and
the legislature that includes recommendations for statutory and
regulatory changes to enhance workforce development and
coordination and alignment between industry, public education, and
higher education, including any adjustments to college and career
pathway programs.
Sec. 29.958. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)
The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the
commission's duties under this subchapter.
(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
Government Code.
Sec. 29.959. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter
expires January 12, 2023.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.