| 1 | 1 | | 89R8503 KSD-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Campbell S.B. No. 1631 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of |
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| 10 | 10 | | an advanced nuclear energy workforce development program. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 302.0081 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 302.0081. ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKFORCE |
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| 15 | 15 | | DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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| 17 | 17 | | Education Coordinating Board. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) "General academic teaching institution," |
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| 19 | 19 | | "institution of higher education," "public junior college," and |
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| 20 | 20 | | "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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| 21 | 21 | | 61.003, Education Code. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (3) "Program" means the advanced nuclear energy |
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| 23 | 23 | | workforce development program established under this section. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (b) The commission, in collaboration with the coordinating |
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| 25 | 25 | | board and in consultation with representatives designated by the |
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| 26 | 26 | | Railroad Commission of Texas to coordinate this state's nuclear |
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| 27 | 27 | | energy strategies, by rule shall establish and administer the |
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| 28 | 28 | | advanced nuclear energy workforce development program under this |
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| 29 | 29 | | section for the purpose of addressing urgent skilled labor demands |
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| 30 | 30 | | in the advanced nuclear energy industry in this state. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (c) Under the program, the commission shall: |
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| 32 | 32 | | (1) create a strategic plan for: |
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| 33 | 33 | | (A) addressing labor supply gaps and talent |
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| 34 | 34 | | retention issues in the advanced nuclear energy industry; and |
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| 35 | 35 | | (B) providing financial assistance, including |
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| 36 | 36 | | through the creation of strategic partnerships among public and |
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| 37 | 37 | | private entities and advanced nuclear energy industry |
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| 38 | 38 | | stakeholders, to incentivize and support: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (i) the creation by institutions of higher |
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| 40 | 40 | | education of education and training programs in the field of |
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| 41 | 41 | | advanced nuclear energy; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (ii) research and leadership development in |
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| 43 | 43 | | the field of advanced nuclear energy at general academic teaching |
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| 44 | 44 | | institutions; |
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| 45 | 45 | | (2) develop customized curriculum requirements for |
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| 46 | 46 | | degree and certificate programs to prepare students for high-wage |
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| 47 | 47 | | jobs in the advanced nuclear energy industry that, subject to |
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| 48 | 48 | | coordinating board approval under Section 61.0512, Education Code, |
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| 49 | 49 | | may be offered by an institution of higher education; and |
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| 50 | 50 | | (3) implement strategies to: |
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| 51 | 51 | | (A) educate students and other individuals |
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| 52 | 52 | | seeking employment in the advanced nuclear energy industry in this |
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| 53 | 53 | | state regarding education and training requirements for jobs in the |
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| 54 | 54 | | industry; and |
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| 55 | 55 | | (B) connect students and other individuals |
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| 56 | 56 | | seeking employment in the advanced nuclear energy industry in this |
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| 57 | 57 | | state with industry employers and employment opportunities. |
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| 58 | 58 | | (d) In developing curriculum requirements under Subsection |
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| 59 | 59 | | (c)(2), the commission shall: |
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| 60 | 60 | | (1) consult with: |
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| 61 | 61 | | (A) representatives of the coordinating board, |
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| 62 | 62 | | general academic teaching institutions, public technical |
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| 63 | 63 | | institutes, and public junior colleges; |
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| 64 | 64 | | (B) the designated representatives of the |
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| 65 | 65 | | Railroad Commission of Texas described by Subsection (b); and |
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| 66 | 66 | | (C) employers in the advanced nuclear energy |
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| 67 | 67 | | industry; and |
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| 68 | 68 | | (2) focus on developing curriculum for programs |
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| 69 | 69 | | leading to high-wage jobs in the areas of: |
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| 70 | 70 | | (A) nuclear-grade welding; |
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| 71 | 71 | | (B) radiological control and monitoring; |
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| 72 | 72 | | (C) reactor operations; |
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| 73 | 73 | | (D) nuclear instrumentation and control; and |
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| 74 | 74 | | (E) nuclear, electrical, chemical, civil, and |
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| 75 | 75 | | environmental engineering. |
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| 76 | 76 | | (e) Not later than September 1 of each year, the commission, |
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| 77 | 77 | | in consultation with the coordinating board, shall prepare and |
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| 78 | 78 | | submit to each standing committee of the legislature with primary |
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| 79 | 79 | | jurisdiction over workforce development, higher education, or |
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| 80 | 80 | | energy industry matters, a report summarizing the commission's |
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| 81 | 81 | | activities under the program. The report may include the |
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| 82 | 82 | | commission's recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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| 83 | 83 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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