BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 337

By: Powell

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) collaborates with community and technical colleges to train veterans and other eligible individuals for in-demand occupations. While these collaborative efforts have generated positive results, there have been calls to provide further incentives to nonprofit organizations that may be interested in helping veterans participate in apprenticeship training programs. It has been suggested that awarding grants to these organizations would incentivize these groups to perform more outreach to veterans and active military personnel, yielding further opportunities for veterans in Texas. S.B. 337 seeks to address this issue by requiring the TWC to develop a program to administer grants to nonprofit organizations in efforts to help veterans and active military members pursue apprenticeship training programs in Texas.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 337 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to develop and administer a program under which it may award grants to one or more nonprofit organizations that facilitate the participation in apprenticeship training programs of veterans and active duty military service members who are transitioning into civilian employment. A grant awarded under the bill's provisions may be used only to recruit or assist veterans or active duty military service members to participate in an apprenticeship training program in Texas. The bill requires the TWC to adopt rules for the administration of the bill's provisions, including rules for verifying that state funds awarded through such a grant are being used appropriately. Implementation of a provision of this bill by the TWC is mandatory only if a specific appropriation is made for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.