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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of |
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a career and technical education workforce specialist pilot |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 302.0055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.0055. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION WORKFORCE |
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SPECIALIST PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Career school or college" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 132.001, Education Code. |
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(2) "Public junior college," "public state college," |
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and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the Texas |
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Education Agency, shall establish and implement a career and |
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technical education workforce specialist pilot program under which |
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workforce development specialists provide career services to |
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students at public high schools in designated regions of this state |
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for the purpose of directing those students toward high-demand, |
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skilled occupations experiencing existing or projected workforce |
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shortages in this state. |
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(c) The commission, in consultation with the Texas |
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Education Agency, shall designate three regions of this state, and |
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the public high schools in each of those regions, to receive |
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services under the pilot program and assign at least one workforce |
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development specialist to provide services in each region. The |
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selected regions must include at least one urban area and one rural |
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area. |
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(d) Career services provided under the pilot program must |
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include the provision of information, guidance, and counseling |
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regarding: |
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(1) high-demand, skilled occupations in this state, |
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including middle skill jobs; and |
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(2) educational and training opportunities for those |
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occupations, including: |
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(A) opportunities offered by employers, public |
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junior colleges, public state colleges, or public technical |
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institutes; and |
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(B) with respect to high-demand occupations in |
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the building trade, any: |
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(i) related courses of instruction offered |
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by career schools or colleges; or |
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(ii) available apprenticeships. |
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(e) The commission may adopt rules as necessary for the |
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administration of this section. |
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(f) Not later than January 1, 2021, the commission shall |
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report to the legislature regarding the commission's: |
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(1) assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot |
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program in directing students toward employment in high-demand, |
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skilled occupations; and |
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(2) recommendations for improving the pilot program |
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and expanding the pilot program statewide. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2021. |
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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, 2017. |