By: Alvarado, Gonzales, Button, H.B. No. 1155

Rodriguez of Travis, Johnson, et al.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

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.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by adding Chapter 316 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 316. RECRUIT TEXAS PROGRAM

Sec. 316.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Program" means the Recruit Texas Program established under this chapter.

(2) "Public junior college" and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Sec. 316.002. RECRUIT TEXAS PROGRAM. (a) The Recruit Texas Program is established within the commission.

(b) 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) Under the program, the commission shall 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) Under the program, the commission may 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) The 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) The commission, for the purposes of this section, may use:

(1) money appropriated to the commission; and

(2) money from other appropriate, statutorily authorized funding sources, including the JET program.

(b) The commission may 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) Under the program, money may not be 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. The commission may adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.