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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 Rural Workforce Training Grant |
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Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 302.0039 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.0039. RURAL WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) |
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In this section, "program" means the Rural Workforce Training Grant |
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Program established under this section. |
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(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Rural |
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Workforce Training Grant Program for the purpose of providing |
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targeted funding for job-specific workforce training and related |
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services to strengthen the skills, resources, and career |
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opportunities of the rural workforce in this state. |
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(c) Under the program, the commission shall award grants to |
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public, private, or nonprofit entities, including business |
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associations, political subdivisions, local workforce development |
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boards, and educational institutions, that: |
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(1) provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships, |
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workforce education courses, and other job-specific workforce |
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development activities in a county with a population of less than |
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200,000; and |
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(2) apply to the commission in the manner provided by |
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commission rule. |
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(d) Grant money awarded to an entity under the program may |
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be used only to cover costs associated with training materials, |
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instructors' fees, participant wraparound expenses, facility fees, |
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administrative costs, and outreach, mentoring, and recruiting |
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costs for the training, apprenticeship, course, or other activity |
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for which the money is awarded. |
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(e) The commission shall require a grant recipient to |
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provide periodic reports regarding the recipient's use of grant |
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money received under the program and related training participant |
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outcomes. |
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(f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source for purposes of the |
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program. |
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(g) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration |
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of the program. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission |
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shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker |
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of the house of representatives, and the standing committee of each |
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house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workforce |
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development matters a report regarding: |
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(1) the grants awarded under the program during the |
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most recent state fiscal year; and |
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(2) the program's effectiveness. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the |
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rules required under Section 302.0039(g), Labor Code, as added by |
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this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |