| 1 | 1 | | 88R2504 CXP-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1201 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the development of a state information technology |
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| 8 | 8 | | credential offered by public junior colleges to address shortages |
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| 9 | 9 | | in the state information resources workforce. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 2054.061(b), Government Code, is amended |
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| 12 | 12 | | to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (b) The department shall annually analyze: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) the department's staffing needs; |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) the need for and cost-effectiveness of contracting |
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| 16 | 16 | | for consultants and outside staff; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (3) whether the department could use department staff |
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| 18 | 18 | | to accomplish tasks proposed for the consultants and outside staff; |
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| 19 | 19 | | [and] |
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| 20 | 20 | | (4) whether and what type of training or additional |
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| 21 | 21 | | resources are necessary for the department to use the department's |
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| 22 | 22 | | own staff to accomplish tasks proposed for the consultants or |
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| 23 | 23 | | outside staff; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | (5) whether entering into an agreement with a public |
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| 25 | 25 | | junior college district under Section 2054.0701 is appropriate to |
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| 26 | 26 | | assist the department in meeting staffing needs. |
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| 27 | 27 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is |
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| 28 | 28 | | amended by adding Section 2054.0701 to read as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | Sec. 2054.0701. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CREDENTIAL. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (a) The department may enter into an agreement with a public junior |
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| 31 | 31 | | college district under Section 130.0081, Education Code, to offer a |
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| 32 | 32 | | program leading to a state information technology credential to |
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| 33 | 33 | | address shortages in the state information resources workforce. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (b) A program offered under this section must: |
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| 35 | 35 | | (1) be approved by the Texas Higher Education |
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| 36 | 36 | | Coordinating Board in accordance with Section 61.0512, Education |
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| 37 | 37 | | Code; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (2) develop the knowledge and skills necessary for an |
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| 39 | 39 | | entry-level information technology position in a state agency; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (3) include a one-year apprenticeship with: |
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| 41 | 41 | | (A) the department; |
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| 42 | 42 | | (B) another relevant state agency; |
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| 43 | 43 | | (C) an organization working on a major |
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| 44 | 44 | | information resources project; or |
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| 45 | 45 | | (D) a regional network security center |
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| 46 | 46 | | established under Section 2059.202. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (c) The executive director shall update the department's |
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| 48 | 48 | | intra-agency career ladder program to ensure that an associate |
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| 49 | 49 | | degree together with a credential awarded under this section may be |
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| 50 | 50 | | substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree. |
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| 51 | 51 | | (d) The classification officer in the office of the state |
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| 52 | 52 | | auditor shall review the state's position classification plan to |
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| 53 | 53 | | determine whether an associate degree together with a credential |
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| 54 | 54 | | awarded under this section may be substituted for a four-year |
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| 55 | 55 | | baccalaureate degree and revise relevant job descriptions |
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| 56 | 56 | | accordingly. |
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| 57 | 57 | | (e) If a program offered under this section is not fully |
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| 58 | 58 | | funded through tuition and other money of the public junior college |
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| 59 | 59 | | district available for the purpose, the department may: |
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| 60 | 60 | | (1) use any money available to the department for the |
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| 61 | 61 | | purpose to offer a program under this section; and |
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| 62 | 62 | | (2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations |
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| 63 | 63 | | from any public or private source for purposes of offering a program |
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| 64 | 64 | | under this section. |
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| 65 | 65 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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