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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to rural workforce development. |
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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 302.021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.021. RURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. (a) The purpose |
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of this section is to enhance the employability, earnings, and |
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standard of living of the people living in rural communities of this |
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state, through job creation and expansion, education, and skills |
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training. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the Texas |
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Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, |
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shall administer a rural workforce development program to support |
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measurable programs advancing college and career readiness, skill |
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development, and work experience opportunities, including: |
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(1) recruiting and retaining businesses for |
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high-wage, high-demand careers aligned to the commission's |
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regional labor market information under Section 302.002 and the |
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occupational shortage areas reported under Section 302.019; |
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(2) working with one or more institutions of higher |
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education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, to support |
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attainment of the coordinating board's long-range master plan for |
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higher education developed under Section 61.051, Education Code, |
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and to ensure students cost-effectively attain degrees and |
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postsecondary credentials of value; and |
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(3) working with participating rural school districts |
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to attain or maintain the highest or second highest performance |
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rating category under Chapter 39, Education Code. |
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(c) The commission may award grants to local entities that |
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perform activities related to the purposes of this section. |
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(d) The commission may award grants for technical |
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assistance to one or more nonprofit organizations with experience |
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in improving outcomes, including students' college and career |
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outcomes, in rural communities in this state. The nonprofit |
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organization shall assist a rural community's alignment of |
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workforce, higher education, and education goals, including access |
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and attainment of postsecondary credentials and degrees. |
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(e) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations |
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from any public or private source for the purposes of the program |
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and shall administer the program using money appropriated to the |
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commission or money received from other sources. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |