Orr Apprenticeship Fund Bill Adds A Six-Member Advisory Board

The text as introduced · 694 words

89R6074 KSD-D

By: Orr
H.B. No. 3799

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Apprenticeship Training

Program Sponsorship Fund.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 133A to read as follows:

CHAPTER 133A. APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP FUND

Sec. 133A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Apprenticeship training program" has the meaning

assigned by Section 133.001.

(2) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce

Commission.

(3) "Fund" means the Apprenticeship Training Program

Sponsorship Fund established under this chapter.

Sec. 133A.002. APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP

FUND. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the

Apprenticeship Training Program Sponsorship Fund as a dedicated

account in the general revenue fund.

(b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:

(1) any money appropriated by the legislature for the

fund for purposes of this chapter;

(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the

fund; and

(3) gifts, grants, and donations received for the

fund.

Sec. 133A.003. FUND PURPOSE. The purpose of the fund is to

provide one-time grants to facilitate and support the development

of sponsors for apprenticeship training programs.

Sec. 133A.004. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of

education and workforce development stakeholders is created to

assist the commission in administering this chapter.

(b) The advisory board is composed of six members who serve

two-year terms and are appointed as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;

(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of

representatives;

(4) one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education

Coordinating Board;

(5) one member appointed by the commission; and

(6) the chair of the commission, who serves as the

presiding officer.

(c) The advisory board shall meet at least twice each

calendar year, or as needed, to make recommendations on awarding

grants under this chapter.

Sec. 133A.005. FUND USE. Money in the fund may be used by

the commission only to award grants as provided by Section

133A.006.

Sec. 133A.006. GRANTS. (a) The commission shall award

one-time grants to eligible entities that apply to the commission

in the manner prescribed by commission rule and satisfy the

eligibility criteria prescribed by Section 133A.007.

(b) The commission shall award grants under this section on

the advice and recommendation of the advisory board established

under Section 133A.004.

Sec. 133A.007. GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to

receive a grant under this chapter, an entity must facilitate the

employment of apprentices in this state by managing and

administering an apprenticeship training program as a sponsor for

the program, as recognized by the United States Department of

Labor.

Sec. 133A.008. GRANT USE. Money received by an entity under

this chapter may be used only for expenses related to managing and

administering an apprenticeship training program as a sponsor for

the program.

Sec. 133A.009. PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS. (a) The commission

by rule shall establish performance benchmarks for entities

receiving grants under this chapter.

(b) The commission by rule shall require reimbursement on a

pro rata basis by an entity that does not meet a performance

benchmark required by this section.

(c) An entity is not required to comply with a performance

benchmark required by this section if the entity's compliance is

not possible because of an act of God, force majeure, or a similar

cause not reasonably within the entity's control.

Sec. 133A.010. REPORT. Not later than October 1 of each

even-numbered year, the commission shall submit to each standing

committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher

education or workforce development a report on grants awarded from

the fund during the most recent state fiscal year and the

effectiveness of the fund in facilitating and supporting the

development of sponsors for apprenticeship training programs.

Sec. 133A.011. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as

necessary for the administration of this chapter.

SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules

for the administration of Chapter 133A, Education Code, as added by

this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this

Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.