By: Creighton, et al. S.B. No. 1102
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and
  Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce
  education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter T-2 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER T-2. TEXAS RESKILLING AND UPSKILLING THROUGH EDUCATION
  (TRUE) PROGRAM
         Sec. 61.881.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Eligible entity" means:
                     (A)  a public junior college or public technical
  institute;
                     (B)  a consortium of public junior colleges or
  public technical institutes; or
                     (C)  a local chamber of commerce, trade
  association, or economic development corporation that partners
  with a public junior college or public technical institute or a
  consortium of public junior colleges or public technical
  institutes.
               (2)  "Program" means the Texas Reskilling and
  Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program established under this
  subchapter.
         Sec. 61.882.  ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION; PURPOSE. (a)
  The Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE)
  Program is established to strengthen the Texas workforce and build
  a stronger Texas economy.
         (b)  The board shall administer the program in accordance
  with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter.
         (c)  Under the program, using funds appropriated or
  otherwise available for the purpose, the board shall award grants
  to eligible entities for creating, redesigning, or expanding
  workforce training programs and delivering education and workforce
  training that:
               (1)  lead to postsecondary industry certifications or
  other workforce credentials required for high-demand occupations;
               (2)  are developed and provided in consultation with
  employers who are hiring in high-demand occupations; and
               (3)  create pathways to employment for students and
  learners.
         (d)  In awarding grants under this subchapter, the board:
               (1)  shall, to the greatest extent practicable:
                     (A)  award grants to at least one eligible entity
  in each region of the state; and
                     (B)  ensure that each training program:
                           (i)  matches regional workforce needs;
                           (ii)  is supported by a labor market
  analysis of job postings and employers hiring roles with the skills
  developed by the program; and
                           (iii)  does not duplicate existing program
  offerings within the region; and
               (2)  may give preference to applicants that:
                     (A)  represent a consortium of public junior
  colleges and public technical institutes;
                     (B)  prioritize training to displaced workers;
                     (C)  offer affordable training programs to
  students; or
                     (D)  partner with local chambers of commerce,
  trade associations, economic development corporations, and local
  workforce boards to analyze job postings and identify employers
  hiring roles with the skills developed by the training programs.
         Sec. 61.883.  USE OF GRANT. (a) A grant awarded to an
  eligible entity under this subchapter may be used only for the
  support and maintenance of educational and general activities that
  promote workforce learning, including:
               (1)  providing training in existing, new, or redesigned
  accelerated programs that teach high-demand skills and lead to
  postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
  credentials valued in growing occupations;
               (2)  developing new industry-aligned, high-demand
  postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
  credentials and certificate programs or other courses of
  instruction leading to those certifications or credentials that can
  be completed in six months or less;
               (3)  redesigning existing postsecondary industry
  certifications or credentials and certificate programs or other
  courses of instruction leading to those certifications or
  credentials to meet the standards under Subdivision (2);
               (4)  expanding institutional capacity to provide
  high-demand postsecondary industry certifications or other
  workforce credentials that are stackable in high-demand career
  pathways and address the needs of high-demand occupations
  identified by the Texas Workforce Commission or applicable local
  workforce development boards;
               (5)  providing student aid awards to incentivize
  enrollment in and completion of industry-aligned, high-demand
  postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
  credentials and certificate programs or other courses of
  instruction leading to those certifications or credentials; and
               (6)  tracking and reporting enrollment, credential
  completion, and employment outcomes for students in courses and
  programs described by this subsection to gauge the impact on
  student success.
         (b)  Money received by an eligible entity under the program
  in a fiscal year that is not used by the entity in that fiscal year
  may be held and used by the entity in the subsequent fiscal year for
  the purposes prescribed in this section if the entity provides to
  the board a reasonable explanation for holding and using the money
  in the subsequent fiscal year.
         Sec. 61.884.  RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS. (a)
  The board, in collaboration with eligible entities, the Texas
  Workforce Commission, and private employers, shall identify
  existing and develop new postsecondary industry certifications or
  other workforce credentials valued in high-demand occupations.
         (b)  The board, in consultation with eligible entities,
  shall:
               (1)  identify postsecondary industry certifications or
  other workforce credentials developed or redesigned using grant
  funds under the program; and
               (2)  establish methods for collecting and reporting
  data related to the certifications or credentials identified under
  Subdivision (1).
         (c)  An eligible entity awarded a grant under this subchapter
  may recommend outcomes related to the achievement or development of
  postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
  credentials identified under this section to be considered by the
  board for inclusion in the state's long-range master plan for
  higher education developed under Section 61.051.
         (d)  In devising its funding formulas and making its
  recommendations to the legislature relating to institutional
  appropriations of funds for public junior colleges and public
  technical institutes under Section 61.059, the board shall
  incorporate the consideration of the achievement or development of
  postsecondary industry certifications and other workforce
  credentials identified under this section.
         Sec. 61.885.  GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may
  solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any
  public or private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.886.  RULES. The board shall adopt rules for the
  administration of this subchapter, including rules requiring
  eligible entities awarded a grant under this subchapter to report
  necessary information to the board.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61,
  Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
  the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  award grants under Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61, Education Code, as
  added by this Act, beginning with the 2021 fall semester.
         SECTION 3.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
  required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates
  money specifically for that purpose.  If the legislature does not
  appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the coordinating
  board may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other
  appropriations available for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.