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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a certification program to provide job skills training. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 312 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 312. TEXAS READY TO WORK CERTIFICATION PROGRAM |
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Sec. 312.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Certification program" means the Texas Ready to |
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Work Certification Program established under this chapter. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce |
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Commission. |
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(3) "Program participant" means an individual |
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eligible under Section 312.002 to participate in the certification |
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program. |
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Sec. 312.002. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. (a) The commission |
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shall develop and establish a certification program to provide job |
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skills training to: |
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(1) individuals receiving unemployment benefits under |
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Chapter 207; and |
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(2) individuals identified by the commission as |
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individuals who will soon enter the workforce. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) identify occupations appropriate for inclusion in |
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the certification program; and |
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(2) develop a set of basic skills for each included |
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occupation. |
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Sec. 312.003. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS. (a) The |
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commission shall develop or adopt an assessment methodology to |
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determine a program participant's level of proficiency with each of |
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the skills identified under Section 312.002(b)(2). |
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(b) The commission shall determine appropriate facilities |
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and settings at which to conduct an assessment under this section. |
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Sec. 312.004. INSTRUCTIONAL CURRICULUM. (a) The |
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commission shall develop or adopt an instructional curriculum that |
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targets the skills in which a program participant is not |
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proficient, as measured by the assessment under Section 312.003. |
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(b) The commission shall provide Internet-based instruction |
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to assist each program participant in achieving proficiency in the |
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skills targeted under Subsection (a). |
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(c) After receiving instruction under Subsection (b), a |
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program participant may take a post-instructional assessment. |
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Sec. 312.005. CERTIFICATE; PORTFOLIO. The commission shall |
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provide to each program participant who successfully demonstrates |
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proficiency in the skills identified under Section 312.002(b)(2): |
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(1) a Texas Ready to Work certificate; and |
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(2) a portfolio that describes in detail each of the |
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skills in which the program participant is proficient as determined |
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by the post-instructional assessment under Section 312.004(c). |
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Sec. 312.006. RULEMAKING. The commission shall adopt rules |
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as necessary to administer the commission's duties under this |
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chapter. |
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Sec. 312.007. FUNDING. The commission is required to |
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implement this chapter only if the commission receives funds for |
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the purpose of establishing the certification program from: |
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(1) the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of |
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2009; |
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(2) a legislative appropriation; |
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(3) gifts, grants, or donations; or |
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(4) any other lawful source. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2009. |