88R1166 SGM-D

By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 1780

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation by the Texas Workforce Commission of a program to assist with transitioning certain workers to clean energy jobs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by adding Chapter 319 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 319. TEXAS JUST TRANSITION SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE

PROGRAM

Sec. 319.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Program" means the Texas Just Transition Skills Development Workforce Program established under this chapter.

(2) "Program commissioners" means the commissioners of the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(3) "Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative" means the joint commission established under Chapter 2308A, Government Code, consisting of commissioners of the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission.

Sec. 319.002. TEXAS JUST TRANSITION SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE PROGRAM. (a) The commission, in consultation with the program commissioners, shall develop and administer the program under which a network of participating frontline organizations across this state provide direct and sustained support to prepare members of economically disadvantaged communities, environmental justice communities, communities of color, foster care communities, and displaced fossil fuel workers for training and entry into clean energy jobs in solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, transportation electrification, and related industries.

(b) The program must:

(1) leverage participating frontline organizations to ensure members of disadvantaged communities and workers served under the program have dedicated and sustained support and training necessary for entry into clean energy jobs; and

(2) facilitate the development of formal partnerships between participating frontline organizations and trade groups, labor unions, and clean energy employers to ensure members of communities and workers served under the program have priority access to pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and other employment opportunities.

Sec. 319.003. PROGRAM NETWORK. (a) The program administrator selected under Section 319.004 shall establish a network of frontline organizations across this state to provide direct and sustained support and training to members of communities and workers served under the program.

(b) Each frontline organization selected to participate in the network must agree to:

(1) provide:

(A) community education and outreach about workforce and training opportunities to ensure members of communities and workers served under the program are aware of clean energy workforce and training opportunities;

(B) training, pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and skill development, including soft skills, math skills, technical skills, and other development needed for members of communities and workers served under the program to enter clean energy-related training and pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs and career paths;

(C) targeted outreach and recruitment to ensure people of color are invited, supported, and given assistance with applying for community-based and labor-based training opportunities, including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs; and

(D) direct assistance and counseling to program participants in training and apprenticeships to help connect participants to career options with renewable energy companies, energy efficiency companies, and other clean energy employers and to provide a direct resource for industries to identify qualified workers to meet program hiring or subcontracting requirements;

(2) develop partnerships with labor organizations to ensure members of communities and workers served under the program are recruited, placed, and supported in labor-based training programs, such as workforce development programs and pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs;

(3) implement a stipend program for program participants in clean energy-related training and apprenticeships that includes funds to assist with participants' transportation or child-care costs and costs for other needed services or supplies; and

(4) engage in job placement activities, including outreach to public agencies, utilities, and clean energy companies, the creation of formal partnerships with employers, employment interview preparation activities, and on-the-job support and counseling.

Sec. 319.004. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The program commissioners shall select an individual or a community-based organization to serve as program administrator to coordinate the work of participating frontline organizations under the program to ensure consistent execution, performance, partnerships, marketing, and program access across this state.

(b) In selecting the program administrator, the program commissioners shall:

(1) consult with representatives from communities and workers served under the program; and

(2) ensure that the individual or organization selected to serve as program administrator has strong capabilities in program management and knowledge of industry trends and activities, workforce development best practices, and community development.

Sec. 319.005. CLEAN JOBS TRAINING CURRICULUM. (a) The program commissioners shall create and adopt a training curriculum designed to prepare workers to enter the clean energy field, including solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, electrification, site assessment, sales, and administration. The training curriculum must include broad occupational training to provide career entry into the general construction and building trades sector.

(b) In creating the training curriculum, the program commissioners shall consult and collaborate with:

(1) the Texas Workforce Investment Council;

(2) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office;

(3) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;

(4) the Texas Education Agency;

(5) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(6) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(7) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;

(8) the Texas Veterans Commission;

(9) the commission;

(10) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(11) the Railroad Commission of Texas;

(12) the State Energy Conservation Office;

(13) representatives of frontline organizations;

(14) workforce development providers;

(15) representatives of labor unions;

(16) representatives of building trades; and

(17) clean energy employers, including employers from the solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, transportation electrification, and infrastructure industries.

(c) A participating frontline organization that receives funding to provide training under the program, including a community-based or labor-based training provider, must use the training curriculum developed under this section for the delivery of that training.

Sec. 319.006. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this chapter.

SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2023, the commissioners of the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall select a program administrator as required under Section 319.004, Labor Code, as added by this Act, for the Texas Just Transition Skills Development Workforce Program created by this Act.

SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2024, the Texas Workforce Commission shall submit to the legislature a report reflecting the training curriculum adopted under Section 319.005, Labor Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.