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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for the Lone Star Workforce of the Future |
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Fund grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 134A.001, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows: |
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(3) "Qualifying general academic teaching |
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institution" means a general academic teaching institution as |
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defined by Section 61.003 that: |
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(A) has a student enrollment of less than 10,000; |
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(B) is located in a county with a population of |
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less than 35,000; and |
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(C) is designated by the United States Department |
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of Education as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). |
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SECTION 2. Section 134A.006, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 134A.006. LONE STAR WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE FUND GRANT |
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PROGRAM. The commission shall establish and administer the Lone |
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Star Workforce of the Future Fund grant program to provide grants to |
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public junior colleges, public technical institutes, qualifying |
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general academic teaching institutions, and nonprofit |
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organizations that apply to the commission in the manner prescribed |
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by the commission and satisfy the eligibility criteria prescribed |
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by Section 134A.007. The commission shall award the grants on the |
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advice and recommendations of the advisory board. |
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SECTION 3. Section 134A.007, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 134A.007. GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to |
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receive a grant under this chapter, a public junior college, public |
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technical institute, qualifying general academic teaching |
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institution, or nonprofit organization must: |
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(1) administer one or more performance-based |
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workforce training programs that: |
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(A) lead to skill development and experiences |
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required for employment in high demand occupations in at least one |
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career field identified and listed as a high-growth career field |
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by: |
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(i) the commission; |
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(ii) the Texas Workforce Investment |
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Council; or |
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(iii) the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative |
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established under Chapter 2308A, Government Code; |
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(B) are developed and provided based on |
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consultation with and input from employers who are hiring in high |
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demand occupations; |
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(C) create pathways to employment for program |
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participants; and |
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(D) are delivered through classroom-based or |
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online instruction, work-based experiences internships, or |
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apprenticeships, or through a combination of those methods; |
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(2) demonstrate through third-party validated data |
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successful outcomes in: |
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(A) recruiting local unemployed and |
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underemployed individuals to participate in the training program or |
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programs; |
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(B) training individuals with the skills needed |
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to secure full-time employment paying at least a self-sufficient |
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wage as determined under Section 2308A.012, Government Code, in the |
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relevant job field; and |
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(C) placing individuals in employment in high |
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demand occupations; |
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(3) demonstrate the ability to attract at least 40 |
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percent of the necessary funding for training program operation |
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from revenue streams other than state government funding; and |
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(4) agree to: |
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(A) collaborate with the commission, corporate |
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partners, and nonprofit educational partners to determine the |
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training programs to be provided using grant money; |
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(B) secure support from local businesses to |
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ensure alignment between training program offerings and in-demand |
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skills; |
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(C) collaborate with regional employers, public |
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junior colleges, public technical institutes, qualifying general |
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academic teaching institutions, or nonprofit organizations to make |
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available developmental work-based experiences to further enhance |
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training program participants' career readiness; |
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(D) engage local entities and organizations, |
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including local workforce development boards and community-based |
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organizations, to assist with identifying and recruiting eligible |
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training program participants; |
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(E) provide documentation to the commission |
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describing training program offerings, including information |
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necessary to verify that the offerings will: |
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(i) provide training that is not exclusive |
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to a single corporate partner; and |
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(ii) lead to knowledge, skills, and |
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work-based experiences that are transferable to similar employment |
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opportunities in high demand occupations offered by other |
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employers; and |
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(F) comply with any additional grant conditions |
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prescribed by commission rule, including performance benchmarks |
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established under Section 134A.008 and reporting requirements |
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established under Section 134A.009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |