By: VanDeaver, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Alvarado) H.B. No. 3511
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2019;
  May 13, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Education; May 17, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 1, 2 present not voting; May 17, 2019, sent to
  printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of the Commission on Texas Workforce of the
  Future.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter Z-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER Z-1.  COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE
         Sec. 29.951.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission"
  means the Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future.
         Sec. 29.952.  COMMISSION ON TEXAS WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE.
  (a)  The Commission on Texas Workforce of the Future 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)  The commission members shall 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.
         (c)  The commission is composed of 17 members as follows:
               (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 Texas Workforce 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)  The members appointed by the governor must have an
  interest in the future of the state's workforce. At least one of
  the members appointed by the governor must be a member of a
  statewide labor federation.  In appointing the members, the
  governor shall 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)  The appointments made by the lieutenant governor must
  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 or the superintendent's
  designee.
         (f)  The appointments made by the speaker of the house of
  representatives must 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)  In making appointments under Subsection (c), the
  governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives shall 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. The governor shall
  designate the presiding officer of the commission. The presiding
  officer must be a business executive.
         Sec. 29.954.  COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. 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)  
  Staff members of the agency shall provide administrative support
  for the commission.
         (b)  Funding for the administrative and operational expenses
  of the commission shall be provided by appropriation to the agency.
         Sec. 29.956.  RECOMMENDATIONS. (a)  The commission shall
  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)  The commission shall 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.  In establishing a work
  group under this subsection, the commission shall ensure that the
  membership of the work group includes at least two representatives
  from the business community.
         Sec. 29.957.  REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2020, the
  commission shall 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)  
  The commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the
  commission's duties under this subchapter.
         (b)  The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
  Government Code.
         Sec. 29.959.  COMMISSION ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF
  SUBCHAPTER. The commission is abolished and this subchapter
  expires January 12, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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