88R1166 SGM-D
By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1780
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation by the Texas Workforce Commission of a
program to assist with transitioning certain workers to clean
energy jobs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 319 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 319. TEXAS JUST TRANSITION SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE
PROGRAM
Sec. 319.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Program" means the Texas Just Transition Skills
Development Workforce Program established under this chapter.
(2) "Program commissioners" means the commissioners
of the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative and the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(3) "Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative" means the joint
commission established under Chapter 2308A, Government Code,
consisting of commissioners of the Texas Education Agency, the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce
Commission.
Sec. 319.002. TEXAS JUST TRANSITION SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
WORKFORCE PROGRAM. (a) The commission, in consultation with the
program commissioners, shall develop and administer the program
under which a network of participating frontline organizations
across this state provide direct and sustained support to prepare
members of economically disadvantaged communities, environmental
justice communities, communities of color, foster care
communities, and displaced fossil fuel workers for training and
entry into clean energy jobs in solar energy, wind energy, energy
efficiency, transportation electrification, and related
industries.
(b) The program must:
(1) leverage participating frontline organizations to
ensure members of disadvantaged communities and workers served
under the program have dedicated and sustained support and training
necessary for entry into clean energy jobs; and
(2) facilitate the development of formal partnerships
between participating frontline organizations and trade groups,
labor unions, and clean energy employers to ensure members of
communities and workers served under the program have priority
access to pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and other employment
opportunities.
Sec. 319.003. PROGRAM NETWORK. (a) The program
administrator selected under Section 319.004 shall establish a
network of frontline organizations across this state to provide
direct and sustained support and training to members of communities
and workers served under the program.
(b) Each frontline organization selected to participate in
the network must agree to:
(1) provide:
(A) community education and outreach about
workforce and training opportunities to ensure members of
communities and workers served under the program are aware of clean
energy workforce and training opportunities;
(B) training, pre-apprenticeship,
apprenticeship, and skill development, including soft skills, math
skills, technical skills, and other development needed for members
of communities and workers served under the program to enter clean
energy-related training and pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship
programs and career paths;
(C) targeted outreach and recruitment to ensure
people of color are invited, supported, and given assistance with
applying for community-based and labor-based training
opportunities, including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship
programs; and
(D) direct assistance and counseling to program
participants in training and apprenticeships to help connect
participants to career options with renewable energy companies,
energy efficiency companies, and other clean energy employers and
to provide a direct resource for industries to identify qualified
workers to meet program hiring or subcontracting requirements;
(2) develop partnerships with labor organizations to
ensure members of communities and workers served under the program
are recruited, placed, and supported in labor-based training
programs, such as workforce development programs and
pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs;
(3) implement a stipend program for program
participants in clean energy-related training and apprenticeships
that includes funds to assist with participants' transportation or
child-care costs and costs for other needed services or supplies;
and
(4) engage in job placement activities, including
outreach to public agencies, utilities, and clean energy companies,
the creation of formal partnerships with employers, employment
interview preparation activities, and on-the-job support and
counseling.
Sec. 319.004. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The program
commissioners shall select an individual or a community-based
organization to serve as program administrator to coordinate the
work of participating frontline organizations under the program to
ensure consistent execution, performance, partnerships, marketing,
and program access across this state.
(b) In selecting the program administrator, the program
commissioners shall:
(1) consult with representatives from communities and
workers served under the program; and
(2) ensure that the individual or organization
selected to serve as program administrator has strong capabilities
in program management and knowledge of industry trends and
activities, workforce development best practices, and community
development.
Sec. 319.005. CLEAN JOBS TRAINING CURRICULUM. (a) The
program commissioners shall create and adopt a training curriculum
designed to prepare workers to enter the clean energy field,
including solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency,
electrification, site assessment, sales, and administration. The
training curriculum must include broad occupational training to
provide career entry into the general construction and building
trades sector.
(b) In creating the training curriculum, the program
commissioners shall consult and collaborate with:
(1) the Texas Workforce Investment Council;
(2) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office;
(3) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
(4) the Texas Education Agency;
(5) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(6) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(7) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
(8) the Texas Veterans Commission;
(9) the commission;
(10) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
(11) the Railroad Commission of Texas;
(12) the State Energy Conservation Office;
(13) representatives of frontline organizations;
(14) workforce development providers;
(15) representatives of labor unions;
(16) representatives of building trades; and
(17) clean energy employers, including employers from
the solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, transportation
electrification, and infrastructure industries.
(c) A participating frontline organization that receives
funding to provide training under the program, including a
community-based or labor-based training provider, must use the
training curriculum developed under this section for the delivery
of that training.
Sec. 319.006. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
necessary for the administration of this chapter.
SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2023, the
commissioners of the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall select a
program administrator as required under Section 319.004, Labor
Code, as added by this Act, for the Texas Just Transition Skills
Development Workforce Program created by this Act.
SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2024, the Texas Workforce
Commission shall submit to the legislature a report reflecting the
training curriculum adopted under Section 319.005, Labor Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.