Texas 2025 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1154 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/10/2025

                    89R3069 KSD-F
 By: Gámez H.B. No. 1154


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the establishment of a skilled labor task force by
 certain local workforce development boards.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is
 amended by adding Section 2308.321 to read as follows:
 Sec. 2308.321.  ESTABLISHMENT OF SKILLED LABOR TASK FORCE BY
 CERTAIN BOARDS. (a) This section applies only to a board
 established in a county with a population of 400,000 or more that
 borders the Gulf of Mexico.
 (b)  A board to which this section applies shall establish a
 skilled labor task force consisting of 17 members from the board's
 local workforce development area appointed by the board as follows:
 (1)  three members who are local government officials;
 (2)  three members representing public postsecondary
 education and vocational education;
 (3)  one member representing a public school district;
 (4)  one member representing the district attorney's
 office;
 (5)  five members who are local business leaders with
 expertise regarding the local labor market;
 (6)  two members representing the public; and
 (7)  two ex officio nonvoting members who are members
 of the legislature:
 (A)  one of whom is appointed by the lieutenant
 governor; and
 (B)  one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the
 house of representatives.
 (c)  A person may not serve on the board and skilled labor
 task force concurrently.
 (d)  A board to which this section applies shall appoint a
 member of the skilled labor task force to serve as the task force's
 presiding officer.
 (e)  A skilled labor task force established under this
 section shall study and develop recommendations for the legislature
 and board regarding strategies for:
 (1)  improving the delivery of workforce education and
 workforce training and services in the board's local workforce
 development area;
 (2)  addressing current and future skills gaps in the
 area;
 (3)  assisting at-risk teenagers and young adults in
 preparing for career employment; and
 (4)  ensuring the area has a sufficiently trained
 workforce to meet local industry needs.
 (f)  A skilled labor task force member is not entitled to
 compensation or reimbursement for expenses.
 (g)  A board to which this section applies shall provide
 administrative support to the board's skilled labor task force as
 necessary to assist the task force in conducting meetings and
 preparing reports required by this section.
 (h)  A skilled labor task force established under this
 section shall meet not later than the 30th day after the date the
 last initial appointment to the task force is made. The task force
 shall meet at least quarterly as necessary at the call of the
 presiding officer and may communicate regularly with the board to
 provide information and make recommendations outside the task
 force's biennial report under Subsection (i).
 (i)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, a
 skilled labor task force established under this section shall
 submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
 house of representatives, and the board a written report of the task
 force's findings and recommendations for legislative or board
 action.
 (j)  A skilled labor task force established under this
 section is abolished and this section expires September 1, 2029.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.