Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5194 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1	1		By: Capriglione H.B. No. 5194
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to improving the efficiency of state workforce development
7	9		programs and apprenticeship pathways to address workforce
8	10		shortages.
9	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	12		SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
11	13		amended by adding Section 302.0039 to read as follows:
12	14		Sec. 302.0039. RURAL WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM. (a)
13	15		In this section, "program" means the Rural Workforce Training Grant
14	16		Program established under this section.
15	17		(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Rural
16	18		Workforce Training Grant Program for the purpose of providing
17	19		targeted funding for job-specific workforce training and related
18	20		services to strengthen the skills, resources, and career
19	21		opportunities of the rural workforce in this state.
20	22		(c) Under the program, the commission shall award grants to
21	23		public, private, or nonprofit entities, including business
22	24		associations, political subdivisions, local workforce development
23	25		boards, and educational institutions, that:
24	26		(1) provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships,
25	27		workforce education courses, and other job-specific workforce
26	28		development activities in a county with a population of less than
27	29		200,000; and
28	30		(2) apply to the commission in the manner provided by
29	31		commission rule.
30	32		(d) Grant money awarded to an entity under the program may
31	33		be used only to cover costs associated with training materials,
32	34		instructors' fees, participant wraparound expenses, facility fees,
33	35		administrative costs, and outreach, mentoring, and recruiting
34	36		costs for the training, apprenticeship, course, or other activity
35	37		for which the money is awarded.
36	38		(e) The commission shall require a grant recipient to
37	39		provide periodic reports regarding the recipient's use of grant
38	40		money received under the program and related training participant
39	41		outcomes.
40	42		(f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
41	43		donations from any public or private source for purposes of the
42	44		program.
43	45		(g) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration
44	46		of the program.
45	47		(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission
46	48		shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker
47	49		of the house of representatives, and the standing committee of each
48	50		house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workforce
49	51		development matters a report regarding:
50	52		(1) the grants awarded under the program during the most
51	53		recent state fiscal year; and
52	54		(2) the program's effectiveness.
53	55		SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the
54	56		rules required under Section 302.0039(g), Labor Code, as added by
55	57		this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
56	58		Act.
57	59		SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is
58	60		amended by adding Section 2054.0702 to read as follows:
59	61		Sec. 2054.0702. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
60	62		APPRENTICESHIP CREDENTIAL. (a) In this section, "public technical
61	63		institute" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education
62	64		Code.
63	65		(b) A state agency may enter into an agreement with a public
64	66		junior college district under Section 130.0081, Education Code, or
65	67		a public technical institute under Section 135.06, Education Code,
66	68		or other applicable law to offer a program leading to a state
67	69		information technology apprenticeship credential to address
68	70		shortages in the state information resources workforce.
69	71		(c) A program offered under this section must:
70	72		(1) be approved by the Texas Higher Education
71	73		Coordinating Board in accordance with Section 61.0512, Education
72	74		Code;
73	75		(2) develop the knowledge and skills necessary for a
74	76		journey- or senior-level information technology position in a state
75	77		agency; and
76	78		(3) include a one-year apprenticeship with:
77	79		(A) a relevant state agency;
78	80		(B) an organization working on a major
79	81		information resources project; or
80	82		(C) a regional network security center
81	83		established under Section 2059.202.
82	84		(d) The executive director shall update the department's
83	85		intra-agency career ladder program to ensure that an associate
84	86		degree together with a credential awarded under this section may be
85	87		substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree.
86	88		(e) The classification officer in the office of the state
87	89		auditor shall review the state's position classification plan to
88	90		determine whether an associate degree together with a credential
89	91		awarded under this section may be substituted for a four-year
90	92		baccalaureate degree and revise relevant job descriptions
91	93		accordingly.
92	94		SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.