Gámez Bill Builds A 17-Member Task Force For One County

The text as introduced · 542 words

89R3069 KSD-F

By: Gámez
H.B. No. 1154

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a skilled labor task force by

certain local workforce development boards.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 2308.321 to read as follows:

Sec. 2308.321. ESTABLISHMENT OF SKILLED LABOR TASK FORCE BY

CERTAIN BOARDS. (a) This section applies only to a board

established in a county with a population of 400,000 or more that

borders the Gulf of Mexico.

(b) A board to which this section applies shall establish a

skilled labor task force consisting of 17 members from the board's

local workforce development area appointed by the board as follows:

(1) three members who are local government officials;

(2) three members representing public postsecondary

education and vocational education;

(3) one member representing a public school district;

(4) one member representing the district attorney's

office;

(5) five members who are local business leaders with

expertise regarding the local labor market;

(6) two members representing the public; and

(7) two ex officio nonvoting members who are members

of the legislature:

(A) one of whom is appointed by the lieutenant

governor; and

(B) one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the

house of representatives.

(c) A person may not serve on the board and skilled labor

task force concurrently.

(d) A board to which this section applies shall appoint a

member of the skilled labor task force to serve as the task force's

presiding officer.

(e) A skilled labor task force established under this

section shall study and develop recommendations for the legislature

and board regarding strategies for:

(1) improving the delivery of workforce education and

workforce training and services in the board's local workforce

development area;

(2) addressing current and future skills gaps in the

area;

(3) assisting at-risk teenagers and young adults in

preparing for career employment; and

(4) ensuring the area has a sufficiently trained

workforce to meet local industry needs.

(f) A skilled labor task force member is not entitled to

compensation or reimbursement for expenses.

(g) A board to which this section applies shall provide

administrative support to the board's skilled labor task force as

necessary to assist the task force in conducting meetings and

preparing reports required by this section.

(h) A skilled labor task force established under this

section shall meet not later than the 30th day after the date the

last initial appointment to the task force is made. The task force

shall meet at least quarterly as necessary at the call of the

presiding officer and may communicate regularly with the board to

provide information and make recommendations outside the task

force's biennial report under Subsection (i).

(i) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, a

skilled labor task force established under this section shall

submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the

house of representatives, and the board a written report of the task

force's findings and recommendations for legislative or board

action.

(j) A skilled labor task force established under this

section is abolished and this section expires September 1, 2029.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.