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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of a |
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geothermal energy workforce education and training initiative. |
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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 302.0085 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.0085. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND |
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TRAINING INITIATIVE. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Career school or college" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 132.001, Education Code. |
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(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(3) "General academic teaching institution," |
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"institution of higher education," "public technical institute," |
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and "public junior college" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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61.003, Education Code. |
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(4) "Initiative" means the geothermal energy |
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workforce education and training initiative established under this |
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section. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the coordinating |
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board, by rule, shall establish and administer an initiative to |
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develop and implement: |
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(1) customized education and training programs |
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necessary to prepare students for entry into jobs in the geothermal |
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energy industry in this state; and |
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(2) other strategies to support and incentivize |
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education and training opportunities that address skills gaps in |
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the geothermal energy workforce in this state. |
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(c) Under the initiative, the commission shall: |
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(1) in consultation with representatives from the |
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coordinating board, general academic teaching institutions, public |
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technical institutes, public junior colleges, career schools or |
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colleges, and employers in the geothermal energy industry, develop |
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customized curriculum requirements for: |
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(A) degree or certificate programs to prepare |
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students for jobs in the geothermal energy industry that, subject |
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to coordinating board approval under Section 61.0512, Education |
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Code, may be offered by institutions of higher education; and |
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(B) other programs of instruction leading to |
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recognized educational credentials to prepare students for jobs in |
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the geothermal energy industry that may be offered by career |
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schools or colleges; |
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(2) identify opportunities to use workforce |
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development funding administered by the commission to provide |
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financial assistance for geothermal energy workforce training |
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programs, subject to any requirements for or restrictions on the |
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distribution of those funds; and |
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(3) promote and support the creation of partnerships |
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between institutions of higher education and geothermal energy |
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industry employers in this state under which apprenticeship and |
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employment opportunities in the geothermal energy industry are made |
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available to students and graduates of the institutions, as |
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applicable. |
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(d) Not later than September 1 of each year, the commission, |
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in consultation with the coordinating board, shall prepare and |
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submit to each standing committee of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over workforce development, higher education, or |
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energy industry matters a report summarizing the commission's |
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activities under the initiative. The report may include the |
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commission's recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |