By: Alvarado, J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 2478

(Senate Sponsor - Watson)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013; May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; May 16, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 16, 2013, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the collection, study, and reporting by the Texas Workforce Commission of certain information regarding shortages in high-wage, high-demand occupations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 302.019 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.019. OCCUPATIONAL SHORTAGE STUDY; REPORT. (a) The commission shall gather and study information relating to existing and projected shortages in high-wage, high-demand occupations in this state. The study conducted by the commission under this section must include information on existing and projected shortages in high-wage, high-demand occupations in industrial job sectors, including:

(1) construction;

(2) manufacturing;

(3) agriculture;

(4) forestry;

(5) health care and social services;

(6) education;

(7) transportation and warehousing;

(8) mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction;

(9) utilities;

(10) wholesale trade;

(11) retail trade;

(12) finance and insurance;

(13) professional, scientific, and technical services; and

(14) hospitality and food services.

(b) Not later than January 1 of each year, the commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each standing committee or subcommittee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workforce development matters a detailed report summarizing the results of the commission's study under this section for the most recent state fiscal year and any suggestions and recommendations for legislative action the commission considers appropriate resulting from that study.

SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall submit the initial report to the governor and the legislature as required by Section 302.019, Labor Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2015.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

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