H.B. No. 584
AN ACT
relating to the development of a state information technology
credential offered by public junior colleges or public technical
institutes to address shortages in the state information resources
workforce.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2054.061(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The department shall annually analyze:
(1) the department's staffing needs;
(2) the need for and cost-effectiveness of contracting
for consultants and outside staff;
(3) whether the department could use department staff
to accomplish tasks proposed for the consultants and outside staff;
[and]
(4) whether and what type of training or additional
resources are necessary for the department to use the department's
own staff to accomplish tasks proposed for the consultants or
outside staff; and
(5) whether entering into an agreement with a public
junior college district or public technical institute under Section
2054.0701 is appropriate to assist the department in meeting
staffing needs.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2054.0701 to read as follows:
Sec. 2054.0701. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CREDENTIAL.
(a) In this section, "public technical institute" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) The department may enter into an agreement with a public
junior college district under Section 130.0081, Education Code, or
a public technical institute under Section 135.06, Education Code,
or other applicable law to offer a program leading to a state
information technology credential to address shortages in the state
information resources workforce.
(c) A program offered under this section must:
(1) be approved by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board in accordance with Section 61.0512, Education
Code;
(2) develop the knowledge and skills necessary for an
entry-level information technology position in a state agency; and
(3) include a one-year apprenticeship with:
(A) the department;
(B) another relevant state agency;
(C) an organization working on a major
information resources project; or
(D) a regional network security center
established under Section 2059.202.
(d) The executive director shall update the department's
intra-agency career ladder program to ensure that an associate
degree together with a credential awarded under this section may be
substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree.
(e) The classification officer in the office of the state
auditor shall review the state's position classification plan to
determine whether an associate degree together with a credential
awarded under this section may be substituted for a four-year
baccalaureate degree and revise relevant job descriptions
accordingly.
(f) If a program offered under this section is not fully
funded through tuition and other money of the public junior college
district or public technical institute available for the purpose,
the department may:
(1) use any money available to the department for the
purpose to offer a program under this section; and
(2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
from any public or private source for purposes of offering a program
under this section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 584 was passed by the House on March
30, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 584 was passed by the Senate on May
17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor