89R6074 KSD-D
By: Orr H.B. No. 3799
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Apprenticeship Training
Program Sponsorship Fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 133A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 133A. APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP FUND
Sec. 133A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Apprenticeship training program" has the meaning
assigned by Section 133.001.
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
Commission.
(3) "Fund" means the Apprenticeship Training Program
Sponsorship Fund established under this chapter.
Sec. 133A.002. APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
FUND. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the
Apprenticeship Training Program Sponsorship Fund as a dedicated
account in the general revenue fund.
(b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:
(1) any money appropriated by the legislature for the
fund for purposes of this chapter;
(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the
fund; and
(3) gifts, grants, and donations received for the
fund.
Sec. 133A.003. FUND PURPOSE. The purpose of the fund is to
provide one-time grants to facilitate and support the development
of sponsors for apprenticeship training programs.
Sec. 133A.004. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of
education and workforce development stakeholders is created to
assist the commission in administering this chapter.
(b) The advisory board is composed of six members who serve
two-year terms and are appointed as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor;
(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(4) one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board;
(5) one member appointed by the commission; and
(6) the chair of the commission, who serves as the
presiding officer.
(c) The advisory board shall meet at least twice each
calendar year, or as needed, to make recommendations on awarding
grants under this chapter.
Sec. 133A.005. FUND USE. Money in the fund may be used by
the commission only to award grants as provided by Section
133A.006.
Sec. 133A.006. GRANTS. (a) The commission shall award
one-time grants to eligible entities that apply to the commission
in the manner prescribed by commission rule and satisfy the
eligibility criteria prescribed by Section 133A.007.
(b) The commission shall award grants under this section on
the advice and recommendation of the advisory board established
under Section 133A.004.
Sec. 133A.007. GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to
receive a grant under this chapter, an entity must facilitate the
employment of apprentices in this state by managing and
administering an apprenticeship training program as a sponsor for
the program, as recognized by the United States Department of
Labor.
Sec. 133A.008. GRANT USE. Money received by an entity under
this chapter may be used only for expenses related to managing and
administering an apprenticeship training program as a sponsor for
the program.
Sec. 133A.009. PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS. (a) The commission
by rule shall establish performance benchmarks for entities
receiving grants under this chapter.
(b) The commission by rule shall require reimbursement on a
pro rata basis by an entity that does not meet a performance
benchmark required by this section.
(c) An entity is not required to comply with a performance
benchmark required by this section if the entity's compliance is
not possible because of an act of God, force majeure, or a similar
cause not reasonably within the entity's control.
Sec. 133A.010. REPORT. Not later than October 1 of each
even-numbered year, the commission shall submit to each standing
committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher
education or workforce development a report on grants awarded from
the fund during the most recent state fiscal year and the
effectiveness of the fund in facilitating and supporting the
development of sponsors for apprenticeship training programs.
Sec. 133A.011. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
necessary for the administration of this chapter.
SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules
for the administration of Chapter 133A, Education Code, as added by
this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.