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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Commission on Texas Workforce of the |
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Future. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter Z-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER Z-1. COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE |
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Sec. 29.951. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" |
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means the Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future. |
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Sec. 29.952. COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE. |
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(a) The Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future is established |
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to engage business, state agencies, and local workforce system |
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partners in the efforts of state and local authorities to build the |
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state's workforce talent pipeline. |
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(b) The commission members shall provide reliable and |
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accurate data pertinent to college and career readiness, |
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industry-based workforce credentials, associate and bachelor's |
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degree programs, and high-demand industry jobs and careers. |
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(c) The commission is composed of 17 members as follows: |
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(1) five members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; |
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(4) the commissioner of higher education or the |
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commissioner's designee; |
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(5) a commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission |
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appointed by the chair of the Texas Workforce Commission or the |
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commissioner's designee; |
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(6) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee; |
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and |
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(7) the chair of the Texas Economic Development |
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Corporation. |
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(d) The members appointed by the governor must have an |
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interest in the future of the state's workforce. At least one of |
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the members appointed by the governor must be a member of a |
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statewide labor federation. In appointing the members, the |
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governor shall consider appointing a business leader representing |
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each of the following industries: |
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(1) oil and gas; |
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(2) technology and manufacturing; |
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(3) health care; |
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(4) construction; and |
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(5) petrochemicals. |
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(e) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor must |
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include: |
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(1) two members of the senate; |
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(2) an administrator in a kindergarten through 12th |
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grade public school system or an elected member of the board of |
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trustees of a school district; and |
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(3) the superintendent of an adult education program |
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provided under an adult high school and industry certification |
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charter school program under Section 29.259 or the superintendent's |
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designee. |
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(f) The appointments made by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives must include: |
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(1) two members of the house of representatives; |
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(2) a representative of a high school dropout recovery |
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adult education program serving students who are at least 18 years |
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of age and not older than 25 years of age or a public school |
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superintendent who oversees a high school dropout recovery adult |
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education program; and |
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(3) an administrator of a public community or |
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technical college or a public university in this state. |
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(g) In making appointments under Subsection (c), the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the members they |
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appoint reflect, to the extent possible, the ethnic and geographic |
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diversity of this state. |
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Sec. 29.953. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate the presiding officer of the commission. The presiding |
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officer must be a business executive. |
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Sec. 29.954. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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Sec. 29.955. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) |
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Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support |
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for the commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency. |
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Sec. 29.956. RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall |
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develop recommendations under this subchapter to address issues |
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related to workforce development and the future of the state's |
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workforce, including: |
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(1) strengthening and supporting industry-led |
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public-private partnerships that connect people with careers and |
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match employers with skilled talent; |
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(2) improving regional coordination and alignment |
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between industry, the public workforce system, public schools, |
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higher education institutions, and community-based organizations |
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to create college and career pathways that lead to good jobs; |
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(3) attracting, educating, developing, and placing |
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workers in high-demand industry sectors; |
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(4) addressing the current and future skills gap |
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across the state economy and identifying statewide initiatives to |
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enhance cross-sector collaboration, communication, and alignment; |
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(5) identifying incentives to encourage cooperation |
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between sectors that fosters innovative approaches to meet the |
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current and future workforce demands; |
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(6) increasing the number of work-based learning |
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opportunities in this state and the availability of those |
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opportunities, including for persons experiencing barriers to |
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employment and who are historically underrepresented in |
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high-growth, high-wage industries, including in small and midsize |
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companies; |
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(7) developing a comprehensive plan for phasing in, |
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beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, an expansion of the adult |
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high school and industry certification charter school program under |
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Section 29.259 as a strategy for meeting industry needs for a |
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sufficiently trained workforce within this state; and |
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(8) recommending statutory changes to the laws |
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governing the public workforce system, public education, and higher |
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education to enhance career path options and ensure long-term |
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collaboration with industry. |
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(b) The commission shall establish one or more work groups |
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composed of not more than five members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. In establishing a work |
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group under this subsection, the commission shall ensure that the |
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membership of the work group includes at least two representatives |
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from the business community. |
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Sec. 29.957. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2020, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that includes recommendations for statutory and |
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regulatory changes to enhance workforce development and |
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coordination and alignment between industry, public education, and |
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higher education, including any adjustments to college and career |
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pathway programs. |
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Sec. 29.958. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the |
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commission's duties under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 29.959. COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter |
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expires January 12, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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