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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of |
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a pilot program to train workers for careers in energy-efficient |
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technologies. |
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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 302.02015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.02015. CAREERS IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES |
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PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency. |
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(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(3) "Public junior college" and "public technical |
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institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education |
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Code. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the agency and the |
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coordinating board, shall establish and administer a pilot program |
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in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area under which the |
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commission partners with public junior colleges, public technical |
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institutes, and energy-efficient technology employers to provide |
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necessary education and training to students for entry into jobs in |
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industries using energy-efficient technologies. |
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(c) Subject to coordinating board approval, a public junior |
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college or public technical institute participating in the pilot |
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program may offer dual credit courses to high school students or |
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college-level courses to high school graduates participating in the |
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pilot program. |
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(d) The commission, in consultation with the agency and the |
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coordinating board, shall establish under the pilot program: |
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(1) training and curriculum requirements that reflect |
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recognized industry practices and align with occupational |
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advancements in the field of energy-efficient technologies; |
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(2) eligibility criteria that prioritize |
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participation by energy-efficient technology employers, public |
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junior colleges, and public technical institutes with a proven |
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history of workforce placement, skills development, and long-term |
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career advancement; |
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(3) a certificate of completion that is portable and |
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recognized by industry and training stakeholders as an indication |
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of meaningful workforce preparation; and |
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(4) mechanisms to ensure instruction is delivered by |
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instructors with demonstrated occupational expertise and relevant |
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industry experience. |
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(e) Under the pilot program, the commission shall ensure |
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that the local workforce development board serving the workforce |
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development area in which the pilot program is administered |
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maintains the following information for each pilot program |
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participant following program completion, disaggregated by race, |
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ethnicity, sex, income, and location: |
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(1) the evaluation data described by Section |
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302.082(b); and |
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(2) data regarding the attainment of employment in an |
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occupation aligned with the participant's training and offering |
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opportunities for wage growth and career advancement. |
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(f) The commission, agency, and coordinating board may |
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adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section. |
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(g) Not later than December 1, 2030, the commission shall |
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evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program at enhancing the |
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entry rate of participants into careers in energy-efficient |
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technologies and report the results of the evaluation to the |
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legislature. The report must include the commission's |
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recommendation on whether the pilot program should be implemented |
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on a statewide basis. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2031. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |