AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEME;NT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 1155 amends the Labor Code to establish the Recruit Texas Program (program) within the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to provide an intensive and rapid response to, and support services for, employers expanding in or relocating their operations to Texas, with a focus on recruiting employers who will provide complex or high-skilled employment opportunities in Texas. The bill requires TWC, under the program, to provide leadership and direction to, and linkage among, out-of-state employers, economic development organizations, local workforce development boards, public junior colleges, and public technical institutes to address the employers' needs for recruitment and hiring for complex or high-skilled employment positions as necessary to facilitate employers' relocation to or expansion of operations in Texas.

 

H.B. 1155 authorizes TWC to award grants under the program to a public junior college or public technical institute to assist the college or institute with rapid curriculum development and instructor certification necessary to provide workforce training and related support services to employers who commit to establishing a place of business in Texas. The bill makes the executive director of TWC, or a person appointed by the executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of grants, responsible for the distribution of grant money under the program.

 

H.B. 1155 authorizes TWC to commit money under the program to an out-of-state employer contingent on the employer's establishment or expansion of business operations in Texas but prohibits the use of program money to pay any training costs or other related costs of an employer to relocate the employer's worksite from one location in Texas to another location in Texas. The bill authorizes TWC, for the purposes of such commitments, to use money appropriated to TWC and money from other appropriate, statutorily authorized funding sources.

 

H.B. 1155 authorizes TWC to adopt rules as necessary to implement the program.

 

H.B. 1155 amends current law relating to the creation of the Recruit Texas Program to facilitate the relocation to or expansion in this state of employers offering complex or high-skilled employment opportunities.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 316.005, Labor Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, by adding Chapter 316, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 316.  RECRUIT TEXAS PROGRAM

 

Sec. 316.001.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines “program,” “public junior college,” and “public technical institute.”

 

Sec. 316.002.  RECRUIT TEXAS PROGRAM.  (a) Provides that the Recruit Texas Program (program) is established within the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

 

(b)  Provides that the purpose of the program is to provide an intensive and rapid response to, and support services for, employers expanding in or relocating their operations to this state, with a focus on recruiting employers who will provide complex or high-skilled employment opportunities in this state.

 

(c)  Requires TWC, under the program, to provide leadership and direction to, and linkage among, out-of-state employers, economic development organizations, local workforce development boards, public junior colleges, and public technical institutes to address the employers' needs for recruitment and hiring for complex or high-skilled employment positions as necessary to facilitate employers' relocation to or expansion of operations in this state.

 

Sec. 316.003.  GRANTS. (a) Authorizes TWC, under the program, to award grants to a public junior college or public technical institute to assist the college or institute to develop:

 

(1)  customize training programs specific business needs;

 

(2)  fast track curriculum development;

 

(3)  instructor certification necessary to provide workforce training;

 

(4)  funding for training equipment that leads to certification and employment; and

 

(5)  other related support services to employers who commit to establishing a place of business in this state.

 

(b)  Provides that the executive director of TWC (executive director), or a person appointed by the executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of grants, is responsible for the distribution of grant money under the program.

 

Sec. 316.004.  FUNDING; USE OF FUNDS.  (a)  Authorizes TWC, for the purposes of this section, to use money appropriated to TWC and money from other appropriate, statutorily authorized funding sources, including the JET program.

 

(b)  Authorizes TWC to commit money under the program to an out-of-state employer contingent on the employer's establishment or expansion of business operations in this state.

 

(c)  Prohibits money, under the program, from being used to pay any training costs or other related costs of an employer to relocate the employer's worksite from one location in this state to another location in this state.

 

Sec. 316.005.  RULES.  Authorizes TWC to adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.