BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3511
86R25641 KSD-D	By: VanDeaver et al. (Alvarado)
	Education
	5/16/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 3511 amends the Education Code to establish the Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future to engage business, state agencies, and local workforce system partners in the efforts of state and local authorities to build the state's workforce talent pipeline. The bill requires the commission members to provide reliable and accurate data pertinent to college and career readiness, industry-based workforce credentials, associate and bachelor's degree programs, and high-demand industry jobs and careers.

H.B. 3511 provides for the composition of the 17-member commission, appointment of commission members, designation of a presiding officer, and reimbursement of member expenses. The bill requires Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff members to provide administrative support for the commission and requires funding for administrative and operational expenses to be provided by appropriation to TEA. The bill requires the commission to develop recommendations to address certain issues related to workforce development and the future of the state's workforce and requires the commission to establish one or more work groups for that purpose.

H.B. 3511 requires the commission, not later than December 31, 2020, to prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that includes recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes to enhance workforce development and coordination and alignment between industry, public education, and higher education, including any adjustments to college and career pathway programs. The bill authorizes the commission to hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the commission's duties and subjects the commission to state public information law and state open meetings law. The bill provisions expire and the commission is abolished January 12, 2021.

H.B. 3511 amends current law relating to the creation of the Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Subchapter Z-1, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER Z-1. COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE

Sec. 29.951. DEFINITION. Defines "commission" as the Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future (commission), for purposes of this subchapter.

Sec. 29.952. COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE. (a) Provides that the commission is established to engage business, state agencies, and local workforce system partners in the efforts of state and local authorities to build the state's workforce talent pipeline.

(b) Requires the commission members to provide reliable and accurate data pertinent to college and career readiness, industry-based workforce credentials, associate and bachelor's degree programs, and high-demand industry jobs and careers.

(1) five members appointed by the governor;

(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4) the commissioner of higher education or the commissioner's designee;

(5) a commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission appointed by the chair of the commission or the commissioner's designee;

(6) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee; and

(7) the chair of the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

(d) Requires the members appointed by the governor to have an interest in the future of the state's workforce. Requires at least one of the members appointed by the governor to be a member of a statewide labor federation. Requires the governor, in appointing the members, to consider appointing a business leader representing each of the following industries:

(1) oil and gas;

(2) technology and manufacturing;

(3) health care;

(4) construction; and

(5) petrochemicals.

(e) Requires the appointments made by the lieutenant governor to include:

(1) two members of the senate;

(2) an administrator in a kindergarten through 12th grade public school system or an elected member of the board of trustees of a school district and

(3) the superintendent of an adult education program provided under an adult high school and industry certification charter school program under Section 29.259 (Adult High School Diploma and Industry Certification Charter School Pilot Program) or the superintendent's designee.

(f) Requires the appointments made by the speaker of the house of representatives to include:

(1) two members of the house of representatives;

(2) a representative of a high school dropout recovery adult education program serving students who are at least 18 years of age and not older than 25 years of age or a public school superintendent who oversees a high school dropout recovery adult education program; and

(3) an administrator of a public community or technical college or a public university in this state.

(g) Requires the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives, in making appointments under Subsection (c), to coordinate to ensure that the members they appoint reflect, to the extent possible, the ethnic and geographic diversity of this state.

Sec. 29.953. PRESIDING OFFICER. Requires the governor to designate the presiding officer of the commission. Requires the presiding officer to be a business executive.

Sec. 29.954. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. Provides that a member of the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties.

Sec. 29.955. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) Requires staff members of the agency to provide administrative support for the commission.

(b) Requires funding for the administrative and operational expenses of the commission to be provided by appropriation to the agency.

Sec. 29.956. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Requires the commission to develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues related to workforce development and the future of the state's workforce, including:

(1) strengthening and supporting industry-led public-private partnerships that connect people with careers and match employers with skilled talent;

(2) improving regional coordination and alignment between industry, the public workforce system, public schools, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations to create college and career pathways that lead to good jobs;

(3) attracting, educating, developing, and placing workers in high-demand industry sectors;

(4) addressing the current and future skills gap across the state economy and identifying statewide initiatives to enhance cross-sector collaboration, communication, and alignment;

(5) identifying incentives to encourage cooperation between sectors that fosters innovative approaches to meet the current and future workforce demands;

(6) increasing the number of work-based learning opportunities in this state and the availability of those opportunities, including for persons experiencing barriers to employment and who are historically underrepresented in high-growth, high-wage industries, including in small and midsize companies;

(7) developing a comprehensive plan for phasing in, beginning with the 2021�2022 school year, an expansion of the adult high school and industry certification charter school program under Section 29.259 as a strategy for meeting industry needs for a sufficiently trained workforce within this state; and

(8) recommending statutory changes to the laws governing the public workforce system, public education, and higher education to enhance career path options and ensure long-term collaboration with industry.

(b) Requires the commission to establish one or more work groups composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to refer to the commission for consideration. Requires the commission, in establishing a work group under this subsection, to ensure that the membership of the work group includes at least two representatives from the business community.

Sec. 29.957. REPORT. Requires the commission, not later than December 31, 2020, to prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature that includes recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes to enhance workforce development and coordination and alignment between industry, public education, and higher education, including any adjustments to college and career pathway programs.

Sec. 29.958. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) Authorizes the commission to hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the commission's duties under this subchapter.

(b) Provides that the commission is subject to Chapters 551 (Open Meetings) and 552 (Public Information), Government Code.

Sec. 29.959. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. Provides that the commission is abolished and this subchapter expires January 12, 2021.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.