Capriglione Workforce Bill Creates A Rural Training Grant Program

The text as introduced · 659 words

By: Capriglione
H.B. No. 5194

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to improving the efficiency of state workforce development

programs and apprenticeship pathways to address workforce

shortages.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is

amended by adding Section 302.0039 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.0039. RURAL WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM. (a)

In this section, "program" means the Rural Workforce Training Grant

Program established under this section.

(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Rural

Workforce Training Grant Program for the purpose of providing

targeted funding for job-specific workforce training and related

services to strengthen the skills, resources, and career

opportunities of the rural workforce in this state.

(c) Under the program, the commission shall award grants to

public, private, or nonprofit entities, including business

associations, political subdivisions, local workforce development

boards, and educational institutions, that:

(1) provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships,

workforce education courses, and other job-specific workforce

development activities in a county with a population of less than

200,000; and

(2) apply to the commission in the manner provided by

commission rule.

(d) Grant money awarded to an entity under the program may

be used only to cover costs associated with training materials,

instructors' fees, participant wraparound expenses, facility fees,

administrative costs, and outreach, mentoring, and recruiting

costs for the training, apprenticeship, course, or other activity

for which the money is awarded.

(e) The commission shall require a grant recipient to

provide periodic reports regarding the recipient's use of grant

money received under the program and related training participant

outcomes.

(f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and

donations from any public or private source for purposes of the

program.

(g) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration

of the program.

(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission

shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker

of the house of representatives, and the standing committee of each

house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workforce

development matters a report regarding:

(1) the grants awarded under the program during the most

recent state fiscal year; and

(2) the program's effectiveness.

SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the

rules required under Section 302.0039(g), Labor Code, as added by

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

Act.

SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 2054.0702 to read as follows:

Sec. 2054.0702. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

APPRENTICESHIP CREDENTIAL. (a) In this section, "public technical

institute" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education

Code.

(b) A state agency may enter into an agreement with a public

junior college district under Section 130.0081, Education Code, or

a public technical institute under Section 135.06, Education Code,

or other applicable law to offer a program leading to a state

information technology apprenticeship credential to address

shortages in the state information resources workforce.

(c) A program offered under this section must:

(1) be approved by the Texas Higher Education

Coordinating Board in accordance with Section 61.0512, Education

Code;

(2) develop the knowledge and skills necessary for a

journey- or senior-level information technology position in a state

agency; and

(3) include a one-year apprenticeship with:

(A) a relevant state agency;

(B) an organization working on a major

information resources project; or

(C) a regional network security center

established under Section 2059.202.

(d) The executive director shall update the department's

intra-agency career ladder program to ensure that an associate

degree together with a credential awarded under this section may be

substituted for a four-year baccalaureate degree.

(e) The classification officer in the office of the state

auditor shall review the state's position classification plan to

determine whether an associate degree together with a credential

awarded under this section may be substituted for a four-year

baccalaureate degree and revise relevant job descriptions

accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.