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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a skilled labor task force by |
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certain local workforce development boards. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2308.321 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2308.321. ESTABLISHMENT OF SKILLED LABOR TASK FORCE BY |
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CERTAIN BOARDS. (a) This section applies only to a board |
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established in a county with a population of 400,000 or more that |
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borders the Gulf of Mexico. |
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(b) A board to which this section applies shall establish a |
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skilled labor task force consisting of 17 members from the board's |
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local workforce development area appointed by the board as follows: |
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(1) three members who are local government officials; |
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(2) three members representing public postsecondary |
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education and vocational education; |
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(3) one member representing a public school district; |
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(4) one member representing the district attorney's |
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office; |
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(5) five members who are local business leaders with |
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expertise regarding the local labor market; |
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(6) two members representing the public; and |
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(7) two ex officio nonvoting members who are members |
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of the legislature: |
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(A) one of whom is appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; and |
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(B) one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives. |
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(c) A person may not serve on the board and skilled labor |
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task force concurrently. |
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(d) A board to which this section applies shall appoint a |
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member of the skilled labor task force to serve as the task force's |
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presiding officer. |
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(e) A skilled labor task force established under this |
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section shall study and develop recommendations for the legislature |
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and board regarding strategies for: |
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(1) improving the delivery of workforce education and |
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workforce training and services in the board's local workforce |
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development area; |
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(2) addressing current and future skills gaps in the |
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area; |
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(3) assisting at-risk teenagers and young adults in |
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preparing for career employment; and |
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(4) ensuring the area has a sufficiently trained |
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workforce to meet local industry needs. |
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(f) A skilled labor task force member is not entitled to |
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compensation or reimbursement for expenses. |
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(g) A board to which this section applies shall provide |
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administrative support to the board's skilled labor task force as |
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necessary to assist the task force in conducting meetings and |
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preparing reports required by this section. |
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(h) A skilled labor task force established under this |
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section shall meet not later than the 30th day after the date the |
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last initial appointment to the task force is made. The task force |
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shall meet at least quarterly as necessary at the call of the |
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presiding officer and may communicate regularly with the board to |
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provide information and make recommendations outside the task |
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force's biennial report under Subsection (i). |
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(i) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, a |
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skilled labor task force established under this section shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the board a written report of the task |
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force's findings and recommendations for legislative or board |
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action. |
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(j) A skilled labor task force established under this |
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section is abolished and this section expires September 1, 2029. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |