BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4451
	By: Bhojani et al. (Flores)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/15/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 22,404 active Texas apprentices through the second quarter of fiscal year 2022. The Coalition for Apprenticeship Partners in Economic Development's data shows that almost 81 percent of apprentices in Texas were in programs related to construction and extraction or installation, maintenance, and repair occupations. These trades, which are in demand in Texas, along with other key industries' trades, help bolster the state's economy with millions of jobs. An assessment of workforce alignment between Texas apprenticeship programs and identified workforce needs would help guide the state's efforts to ensure that state-supported apprenticeship programs address both current and future workforce needs.

H.B. 4451 seeks to resolve this issue by requiring the Texas Workforce Commission to work with the state's 28 local workforce development boards to determine the availability of apprenticeships aligned with the industries represented in workforce boards' target occupations lists.

H.B. 4451 amends current law relating to a report by the Texas Workforce Commission regarding apprenticeship opportunities in this state for emerging and high-demand industries.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, by adding Section 302.0191, as follows:

Sec. 302.0191.� REPORT ON AVAILABLE APPRENTICESHIPS.� (a)� Defines "apprenticeship program" and "emerging and high-demand industry."

(b)� Requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), in consultation with each local workforce development board, not later than September 1 of each year, to prepare and submit to the legislature a report on available apprenticeship programs in this state and make recommendations to expand the availability of apprenticeship programs in emerging and high-demand industries. Requires that the report:

(1)� include data on:

(A)� the total number of active apprenticeship programs, categorized by the industries included in the North American Industry Classification System;

(B)� the total number of active apprentices, categorized by the industries included in the North American Industry Classification System; and

(C)� the total occupational demand for each industry, categorized by each occupation in the industry for which an apprenticeship program is authorized to be established; and

(2)� make recommendations to expand available apprenticeship programs for emerging and� high-demand industries with higher employment demand relative to the total number of active apprentices and apprenticeship programs.

(c)� Authorizes TWC to collaborate and consult with the council or the Apprenticeship and Training Advisory Committee, as designated by the council, to develop recommendations for the report under Subsection (b).

(d)� Requires TWC to provide a copy of the report to the council or the Apprenticeship and Training Advisory Committee, as designated by the council, at the same time as the report required under Section 133.006(b), Education Code.

SECTION 2. Requires TWC to prepare and submit the initial report required by Section 302.0191, Labor Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2024.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.