BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 108
85R22922 KSD-D	By: Alvarado et al. (Taylor, Larry)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/17/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 108 amends the Labor Code to authorize the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to use the skills development fund to provide an intensive and rapid response to, and support services for, employers expanding in or relocating their operations to Texas.

H.B. 108 authorizes TWC to use funds available for the bill's purposes to provide leadership and direction to 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. 108 authorizes TWC to use funds available for the bill's purposes to award grants to a public junior college or public technical institute providing workforce training and related support services to employers who commit to establishing a place of business in Texas. H.B. 108 makes the executive director of TWC, or a person appointed by the executive director who is knowledgeable in grant administration, responsible for the distribution of grant money under H.B. 108.

H.B. 108 authorizes TWC to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purposes of the bill's provisions. H.B. 108 authorizes TWC to require, as a condition of receiving grant money under H.B. 108, that a recipient agree to repay the amount received and any related interest if TWC determines that the money was not used for the purposes for which the money was awarded. H.B. 108 prohibits the use of grant money to pay any training costs or other related costs of an employer to relocate the employer's worksite from one location to another in Texas.

H.B. 108 amends current law relating to the use of the skills development fund 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 303.0031, Labor Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 303, Labor Code, by adding Section 303.0031, as follows:

Sec. 303.0031. USE OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND TO RECRUIT CERTAIN EMPLOYERS. (a) Defines "public junior college" and "public technical institute."

(b) Authorizes the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), in addition to the purposes described by Section 303.001 (Purpose; Definitions), to use the skills development fund 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) Authorizes TWC to use funds available for the purpose of this section to provide leadership and direction to, and linkage among, certain groups 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, and award grants to certain educational institutions.

(d) Authorizes a grant awarded under this section to be used only for developing certain educational programs and acquiring training equipment necessary for instructor certification and employment.

(e) Provides that the executive director of TWC, 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 this section.

(f) Authorizes TWC to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purpose of this section.

(g) Authorizes TWC to require, as a condition of receiving money under this section, that a recipient agree to repay the amount received and any related interest if the commission determines that the money was not used for the purposes for which the money was awarded.

(h) Prohibits money from being used under this section 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.

(i) Authorizes TWC to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.