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89(R) HB 4443 - Engrossed version - Bill Text
By: Bhojani, Bell of Kaufman, Longoria,
H.B. No. 4443
Lujan, Ordaz, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of
a pilot program to train workers for careers in energy-efficient
technologies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 302.02015 to read as follows:
Sec.
302.02015.
CAREERS IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES
PILOT PROGRAM.
(a)
In this section:
(1) "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency.
(2)
"Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3)
"Public junior college" and "public technical
institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education
Code.
(b)
The commission, in consultation with the agency and the
coordinating board, shall establish and administer a pilot program
in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area under which the
commission partners with public junior colleges, public technical
institutes, and energy-efficient technology employers to provide
necessary education and training to students for entry into jobs in
industries using energy-efficient technologies.
(c)
Subject to coordinating board approval, a public junior
college or public technical institute participating in the pilot
program may offer dual credit courses to high school students or
college-level courses to high school graduates participating in the
pilot program.
(d)
The commission, in consultation with the agency and the
coordinating board, shall establish under the pilot program:
(1)
training and curriculum requirements that reflect
recognized industry practices and align with occupational
advancements in the field of energy-efficient technologies;
(2)
eligibility criteria that prioritize
participation by energy-efficient technology employers, public
junior colleges, and public technical institutes with a proven
history of workforce placement, skills development, and long-term
career advancement;
(3)
a certificate of completion that is portable and
recognized by industry and training stakeholders as an indication
of meaningful workforce preparation; and
(4)
mechanisms to ensure instruction is delivered by
instructors with demonstrated occupational expertise and relevant
industry experience.
(e)
Under the pilot program, the commission shall ensure
that the local workforce development board serving the workforce
development area in which the pilot program is administered
maintains the following information for each pilot program
participant following program completion, disaggregated by race,
ethnicity, sex, income, and location:
(1)
the evaluation data described by Section
302.082(b); and
(2)
data regarding the attainment of employment in an
occupation aligned with the participant's training and offering
opportunities for wage growth and career advancement.
(f)
The commission, agency, and coordinating board may
adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section.
(g)
Not later than December 1, 2030, the commission shall
evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program at enhancing the
entry rate of participants into careers in energy-efficient
technologies and report the results of the evaluation to the
legislature.
The report must include the commission's
recommendation on whether the pilot program should be implemented
on a statewide basis.
(h) This section expires September 1, 2031.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.