Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1535 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Zaffirini, Parker S.B. No. 1535
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	2	+	(In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2025; March 6, 2025,
	3	+	read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development;
	4	+	March 26, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
	5	+	Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; March 26, 2025,
	6	+	sent to printer.)
	7	+	Click here to see the committee vote
	8	+	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1535 By: Sparks
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6	11		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
7	12		AN ACT
8	13		relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of
9	14		an advanced nuclear energy workforce development program.
10	15		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	16		SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
12	17		amended by adding Section 302.0081 to read as follows:
13	18		Sec. 302.0081. ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKFORCE
14	19		DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
15	20		(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
16	21		Education Coordinating Board.
17	22		(2) "General academic teaching institution,"
18	23		"institution of higher education," "public junior college," and
19	24		"public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section
20	25		61.003, Education Code.
21	26		(3) "Program" means the advanced nuclear energy
22	27		workforce development program established under this section.
23	28		(b) The commission, in collaboration with the coordinating
24	29		board and in consultation with representatives designated by the
25	30		Public Utility Commission of Texas to coordinate this state's
26	31		nuclear energy strategies, by rule shall establish and administer
27	32		the advanced nuclear energy workforce development program under
28	33		this section for the purpose of addressing urgent skilled labor
29	34		demands in the advanced nuclear energy industry in this state.
30	35		(c) Under the program, the commission shall:
31	36		(1) create a strategic plan for:
32	37		(A) addressing labor supply gaps and talent
33	38		retention issues in the advanced nuclear energy industry; and
34	39		(B) providing financial assistance, including
35	40		through the creation of strategic partnerships among public and
36	41		private entities and advanced nuclear energy industry
37	42		stakeholders, to incentivize and support:
38	43		(i) the creation by institutions of higher
39	44		education of education and training programs in the field of
40	45		advanced nuclear energy; and
41	46		(ii) research and leadership development in
42	47		the field of advanced nuclear energy at general academic teaching
43	48		institutions; and
44	49		(2) develop customized curriculum requirements for
45	50		degree and certificate programs to prepare students for high-wage
46	51		jobs in the advanced nuclear energy industry that, subject to
47	52		coordinating board approval under Section 61.0512, Education Code,
48	53		may be offered by an institution of higher education.
49	54		(d) In developing curriculum requirements under Subsection
50	55		(c)(2), the commission shall:
51	56		(1) consult with:
52	57		(A) representatives of the coordinating board,
53	58		general academic teaching institutions, public technical
54	59		institutes, and public junior colleges;
55	60		(B) the designated representatives of the Public
56	61		Utility Commission of Texas described by Subsection (b); and
57	62		(C) employers in the advanced nuclear energy
58	63		industry; and
59	64		(2) focus on developing curricula for programs leading
60	65		to high-wage jobs in the areas of:
61	66		(A) nuclear-grade welding;
62	67		(B) radiological control and monitoring;
63	68		(C) reactor operations;
64	69		(D) nuclear instrumentation and control; and
65	70		(E) nuclear, electrical, chemical, civil, and
66	71		environmental engineering.
67	72		(e) Not later than September 1 of each year, the commission,
68	73		in consultation with the coordinating board, shall prepare and
69	74		submit to each standing committee of the legislature with primary
70	75		jurisdiction over workforce development, higher education, or
71	76		energy industry matters, a report summarizing the commission's
72	77		activities under the program. The report may include the
73	78		commission's recommendations for legislative or other action.
74	79		SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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