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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the participation in and reimbursement from the skills |
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development fund of certain entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 303.001(a), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The purpose of this chapter is to remove administrative |
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barriers that impede the response of public community and technical |
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colleges, community-based organizations, local workforce |
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development boards, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, |
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and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to industry and |
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workforce training needs and to develop incentives for public |
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community and technical colleges, community-based organizations, |
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local workforce development boards, the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Experiment Station, and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service |
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to provide customized assessment and training in a timely and |
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efficient manner. |
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SECTION 2. Section 303.002(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A public community or technical college, the Texas A&M |
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Engineering Experiment Station, or the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service may recover customized assessment and training |
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costs incurred by the college, station, or service [institution] |
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if: |
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(1) there is an actual or projected labor shortage in |
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the occupation in which training is provided that is not being met |
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by an existing institution or program in the area; and |
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(2) the wages at the time of job placement for |
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individuals who successfully complete customized training at the |
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public community or technical college, the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Experiment Station, or the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service |
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are equal to the prevailing wage for that occupation in the local |
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labor market area. |
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SECTION 3. Section 303.003, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b), (f), (g), and (h) and adding Subsection |
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(d-1) to read as follows: |
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(b) The skills development fund may be used by public |
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community and technical colleges, community-based organizations, |
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local workforce development boards, the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Experiment Station, and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service |
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as start-up or emergency funds for the following job-training |
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purposes: |
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(1) developing customized training programs for |
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businesses and trade unions; and |
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(2) sponsoring small and medium-sized business |
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networks and consortiums. |
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(d-1) The commission by rule shall adopt a procedure under |
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which an employer may seek and obtain direct reimbursement from the |
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skills development fund for costs incurred by the employer in |
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relation to customized training or certification completed by the |
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employer's employees under a grant agreement authorized under this |
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chapter. |
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(f) The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and the |
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Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall focus the station's |
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or service's training activities under this chapter on programs |
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that: |
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(1) are statewide in nature; or |
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(2) are not available from a local junior college |
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district, a local technical college, or a consortium of junior |
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college districts. |
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(g) This section does not prohibit the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Experiment Station or the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service |
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from participating in a consortium of junior college districts or |
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with a technical college that provides training under this chapter. |
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(h) A community-based organization may apply for money to |
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participate in a training program only in partnership with a |
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community and technical college, the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Experiment Station, or the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. |
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A community-based organization providing services regulated by the |
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state shall provide evidence of any certification, license, or |
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registration required by law. |
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SECTION 4. Section 303.004, Labor Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 303.004. FUND REVIEW; REPORT BY CERTAIN WORKFORCE |
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TRAINING PROVIDERS REQUIRED. (a) The Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board shall review all customized training programs |
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biennially to verify that state funds are being used appropriately |
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by public community and technical colleges, the Texas A&M |
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Engineering Experiment Station, and the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service under this chapter. |
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(b) Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the |
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Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service, and each public community or technical college |
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that provides workforce training under this chapter shall: |
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(1) conduct a review of the station's, service's, or |
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college's training programs to: |
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(A) determine the effectiveness of the programs |
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in improving the wages of participants who complete the programs; |
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and |
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(B) identify strategies for improving the |
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delivery of workforce training in order to more effectively impact |
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economic development in this state; and |
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(2) submit to the commission a detailed written report |
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summarizing the results of the review for inclusion by the |
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executive director in the report to the governor and the |
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legislature required by Section 303.006(c). |
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(c) If the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the |
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Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, or a public community or |
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technical college fails to submit a report required by Subsection |
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(b)(2): |
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(1) the station, service, or college must refund to |
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the comptroller any unexpended state funds received by the station, |
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service, or college under this chapter for the state fiscal |
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biennium in which the report was due; and |
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(2) the commission may not award any additional grant |
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to the station, service, or college under this chapter until the |
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station, service, or college has complied with that reporting |
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requirement. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |