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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and |
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Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Initiative to support |
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workforce education at public junior colleges. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter T-2 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER T-2. TEXAS RESKILLING AND UPSKILLING THROUGH EDUCATION |
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(TRUE) INITIATIVE |
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Sec. 61.881. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "initiative" |
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means the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) |
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Initiative established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.882. INITIATIVE: ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION; |
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PURPOSE. (a) The Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through |
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Education (TRUE) Initiative is established. |
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(b) The board shall administer the initiative in accordance |
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with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter. |
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(c) Under the initiative, using funds appropriated or |
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otherwise available for the purpose, the board shall award grants |
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to public junior colleges for creating, redesigning, or expanding |
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workforce training programs that lead to postsecondary industry |
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certifications or other workforce credentials required for |
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high-demand occupations. |
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Sec. 61.883. USE OF GRANT. (a) A grant awarded to a public |
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junior college under this subchapter may be used only for the |
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support and maintenance of educational and general activities that |
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promote workforce learning at the college, including: |
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(1) providing training in new or redesigned |
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accelerated programs that teach high-demand skills and lead to |
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postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce |
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credentials valued in growing occupations that pay a living wage; |
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(2) developing new industry-aligned, high-demand |
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postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce |
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credentials and certificate programs or other courses of |
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instruction leading to those certifications or credentials; and |
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(3) expanding institutional capacity to provide |
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high-demand postsecondary industry certifications or other |
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workforce credentials for target occupations included on regional |
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or statewide target occupations lists established by appropriate |
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workforce agencies. |
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(b) Money received by a public junior college under the |
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grant program in a fiscal year that is not used by the college in |
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that fiscal year may be held and used by the college in subsequent |
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fiscal years for the purposes prescribed in this section. |
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Sec. 61.884. RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS. (a) |
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The board, in collaboration with public junior colleges, the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, and private employers, shall identify new |
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high-demand skills needed to earn postsecondary industry |
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certifications or other workforce credentials valued in |
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high-demand occupations. |
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(b) The board, in consultation with public junior colleges, |
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shall: |
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(1) identify new postsecondary industry |
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certifications or other workforce credentials developed using |
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grant funds under the initiative; and |
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(2) establish methods for collecting and reporting |
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data related to the certifications or credentials identified under |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(c) A public junior college awarded a grant under this |
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subchapter may recommend outcomes related to the achievement or |
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development of postsecondary industry certifications or other |
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workforce credentials identified under this section to be |
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considered by the board for inclusion in the state's long-range |
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master plan for higher education developed under Section 61.051. |
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(d) In devising its funding formulas and making its |
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recommendations to the legislature relating to institutional |
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appropriations of funds for public junior colleges under Section |
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61.059, the board shall incorporate the consideration of the |
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achievement or development of postsecondary industry |
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certifications and other workforce credentials identified under |
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this section. |
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Sec. 61.885. GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may |
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solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any |
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public or private source for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.886. RULES. The board shall adopt rules for the |
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administration of this subchapter, including rules requiring |
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public junior colleges awarded a grant under this subchapter to |
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report necessary information to the board. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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award grants to public junior colleges under Subchapter T-2, |
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Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the |
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2022 fall semester. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |