| 1 | 1 | | 89R10959 AB-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Ashby H.B. No. 4479 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Development |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Grant Program. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Subchapter J to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | SUBCHAPTER J. RURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 302.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (2) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | 501(c)(3) of that code. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (3) "Program" means the Rural Workforce Development |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | Grant Program established under this subchapter. |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | Sec. 302.302. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | The commission, in consultation with the Texas Education Agency and |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall establish and |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | administer the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program under |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | which the commission may award grants to one or more nonprofit |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | organizations to provide technical assistance and support to |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | institutions of higher education and school districts in rural |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | areas of the state in aligning and delivering workforce training |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | and higher education to address skills gaps to meet urgent |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | workforce demands. |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 302.303. GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for a grant |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | under the program, a nonprofit organization must: |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | (1) apply to the commission in the manner prescribed |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | by commission rule; |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (2) demonstrate experience in effectively providing |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | technical assistance and support to institutions of higher |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | education or school districts in a rural area of this state in |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | aligning and delivering workforce training and education programs |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | to address skills gaps to meet the area's urgent workforce demands; |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | and |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (3) satisfy any other relevant criteria prescribed by |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | commission rule. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | Sec. 302.304. GRANT REQUIREMENTS. (a) The commission may |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | award a grant to an eligible nonprofit organization under the |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | program only if the organization enters into a contract with the |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | commission that includes conditions providing the commission with |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of improving rural |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | workforce development is accomplished and the state receives a |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | return benefit. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | (b) Grant money awarded to an eligible nonprofit |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | organization under the program may be used by the organization only |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | for costs associated with providing technical assistance and |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | support to an institution of higher education or school district |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | located in a rural area of this state in aligning and delivering |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | workforce training and education to meet the area's urgent |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | workforce demands. |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | Sec. 302.305. FUNDING. In addition to any money |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | appropriated for the program, the commission may solicit and accept |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | the program. |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | Sec. 302.306. RULES; REVIEW. The commission shall: |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | (1) adopt rules for the administration of this |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | subchapter; and |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | (2) periodically verify that grant money awarded to a |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | nonprofit organization under the program is being used |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | appropriately. |
|---|
| 70 | 70 | | Sec. 302.307. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
|---|
| 71 | 71 | | each year, the commission shall submit to the governor, the |
|---|
| 72 | 72 | | lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|---|
| 73 | 73 | | and each standing committee of the legislature with primary |
|---|
| 74 | 74 | | jurisdiction over workforce development a report regarding: |
|---|
| 75 | 75 | | (1) any grants awarded under the program during the |
|---|
| 76 | 76 | | most recent state fiscal year; and |
|---|
| 77 | 77 | | (2) the program's effectiveness. |
|---|
| 78 | 78 | | SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the |
|---|
| 79 | 79 | | rules required under Subchapter J, Chapter 302, Labor Code, as |
|---|
| 80 | 80 | | added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date |
|---|
| 81 | 81 | | of this Act. |
|---|
| 82 | 82 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|