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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs |
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Grant Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 302.252(1), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(1) "Industry-recognized apprenticeship program" |
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means a training program that: |
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(A) provides on-the-job training, preparatory |
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instruction, supplementary instruction, or related instruction in |
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an occupation that has been recognized as an apprenticeable |
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occupation by the commission as provided by commission rule [Office |
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of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor]; or |
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(B) is certified by the commission as an |
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industry-recognized apprenticeship program as provided by |
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commission rule [by a third-party certifier that has received from |
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the United States Department of Labor a favorable determination of |
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qualification to award that certification]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 302.257, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The commission shall adopt rules to administer and |
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enforce this subchapter, including rules establishing: |
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(1) which occupations are recognized by the commission |
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as an apprenticeable occupation for purposes of this subchapter and |
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the criteria for that determination, which must include that the |
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occupation: |
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(A) be customarily learned in a practical way |
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through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job supervised |
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training; |
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(B) be clearly identified and commonly |
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recognized throughout an industry; |
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(C) involve manual, mechanical, or technical |
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skills or knowledge which requires significant on-the-job work |
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experience; and |
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(D) require related instruction to supplement |
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the on-the-job training; and |
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(2) a process for and the criteria by which the |
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commission may certify a training program as an industry-recognized |
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apprenticeship program for purposes of this subchapter. |
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(a-1) The criteria adopted by the commission under |
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Subsection (a)(2) must be generally consistent with the standards |
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of apprenticeship prescribed by 29 C.F.R. Section 29. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the rules |
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required by Section 302.257, Labor Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a grant awarded under Subchapter I, Chapter 302, Labor Code, on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. A grant awarded before |
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that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the grant was |
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awarded, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |