By: Capriglione H.B. No. 5194
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to improving the efficiency of state workforce development
programs and apprenticeship pathways to address workforce
shortages.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 302.0039 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.0039. RURAL WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM. (a)
In this section, "program" means the Rural Workforce Training Grant
Program established under this section.
(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Rural
Workforce Training Grant Program for the purpose of providing
targeted funding for job-specific workforce training and related
services to strengthen the skills, resources, and career
opportunities of the rural workforce in this state.
(c) Under the program, the commission shall award grants to
public, private, or nonprofit entities, including business
associations, political subdivisions, local workforce development
boards, and educational institutions, that:
(1) provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships,
workforce education courses, and other job-specific workforce
development activities in a county with a population of less than
200,000; and
(2) apply to the commission in the manner provided by
commission rule.
(d) Grant money awarded to an entity under the program may
be used only to cover costs associated with training materials,
instructors' fees, participant wraparound expenses, facility fees,
administrative costs, and outreach, mentoring, and recruiting
costs for the training, apprenticeship, course, or other activity
for which the money is awarded.
(e) The commission shall require a grant recipient to
provide periodic reports regarding the recipient's use of grant
money received under the program and related training participant
outcomes.
(f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source for purposes of the
program.
(g) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration
of the program.
(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission
shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker
of the house of representatives, and the standing committee of each
house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workforce
development matters a report regarding:
(1) the grants awarded under the program during the most
recent state fiscal year; and
(2) the program's effectiveness.
SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the
rules required under Section 302.0039(g), Labor Code, as added by
this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
Act.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2054.0702 to read as follows:
Sec. 2054.0702. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
APPRENTICESHIP CREDENTIAL. (a) In this section, "public technical
institute" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education
Code.
(b) A state agency 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 apprenticeship 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 a
journey- or senior-level information technology position in a state
agency; and
(3) include a one-year apprenticeship with:
(A) a relevant state agency;
(B) an organization working on a major
information resources project; or
(C) 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.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.