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AN ACT
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relating to the use of the skills development fund by certain |
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entities and a study and report regarding the effectiveness of that |
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fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 303.001(a), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The purpose of this chapter is to remove administrative |
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barriers that impede the response of public community and technical |
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colleges, community-based organizations, local workforce |
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development boards, and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service |
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to industry and workforce training needs and to develop incentives |
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for public community and technical colleges, community-based |
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organizations, local workforce development boards, and the Texas |
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A&M Engineering Extension Service to provide customized assessment |
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and training in a timely and efficient manner. |
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SECTION 2. Section 303.002(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A public community or technical college or the Texas A&M |
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Engineering Extension Service may recover customized assessment |
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and training costs incurred by the institution if: |
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(1) there is an actual or projected labor shortage in |
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the occupation in which training is provided that is not being met |
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by an existing institution or program in the area; and |
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(2) the wages at the time of job placement for |
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individuals who successfully complete customized training at the |
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public community or technical college or the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service are equal to the prevailing wage for that |
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occupation in the local labor market area. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 303.003(b), (f), (g), and (h), Labor |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The skills development fund may be used by public |
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community and technical colleges, community-based organizations, |
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local workforce development boards, and the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service as start-up or emergency funds for the following |
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job-training purposes: |
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(1) developing customized training programs for |
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businesses and trade unions; and |
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(2) sponsoring small and medium-sized business |
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networks and consortiums. |
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(f) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall focus |
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the service's training activities under this chapter on programs |
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that: |
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(1) are statewide in nature; or |
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(2) are not available from a local junior college |
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district, a local technical college, or a consortium of junior |
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college districts. |
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(g) This section does not prohibit the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service from participating in a consortium of junior |
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college districts or with a technical college that provides |
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training under this chapter. |
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(h) A community-based organization may apply for money to |
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participate in a training program only in partnership with a |
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community and technical college or the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service. A community-based organization providing |
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services regulated by the state shall provide evidence of any |
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certification, license, or registration required by law. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The Texas Workforce Commission shall |
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conduct a study on and develop recommendations for increasing the |
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effectiveness of the skills development fund established under |
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Chapter 303, Labor Code. The recommendations must include |
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strategies for better achieving the fund's purposes, improving |
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outcomes, and expanding participation in the opportunities |
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available through the fund. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2020, the Texas Workforce |
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Commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the |
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legislative committees with appropriate jurisdiction a report |
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detailing the commission's findings and recommendations under |
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Subsection (a) of this section. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 700 was passed by the House on April |
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26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 127, Nays 12, 2 present, not |
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voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
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H.B. No. 700 on May 17, 2019, and requested the appointment of a |
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conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
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houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
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on H.B. No. 700 on May 26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 111, |
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Nays 28, 2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 700 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 14, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays |
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6; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference |
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committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and |
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that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. |
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700 on May 26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |