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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Recruit Texas Program to facilitate |
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the relocation to or expansion in this state of employers offering |
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complex or high-skilled employment opportunities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 316 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 316. RECRUIT TEXAS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 316.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Program" means the Recruit Texas Program |
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established under this chapter. |
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(2) "Public junior college" and "public technical |
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institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education |
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Code. |
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Sec. 316.002. RECRUIT TEXAS PROGRAM. (a) The Recruit Texas |
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Program is established within the commission. |
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(b) The purpose of the program is to provide an intensive |
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and rapid response to, and support services for, employers |
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expanding in or relocating their operations to this state, with a |
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focus on recruiting employers who will provide complex or |
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high-skilled employment opportunities in this state. |
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(c) Under the program, the commission shall provide |
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leadership and direction to, and linkage among, out-of-state |
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employers, economic development organizations, local workforce |
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development boards, public junior colleges, and public technical |
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institutes to address the employers' needs for recruitment and |
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hiring for complex or high-skilled employment positions as |
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necessary to facilitate employers' relocation to or expansion of |
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operations in this state. |
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Sec. 316.003. GRANTS. (a) Under the program, the commission |
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may award grants to a public junior college or public technical |
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institute to assist the college or institute to develop: |
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(1) customize training programs specific business |
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needs; |
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(2) fast track curriculum development; |
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(3) instructor certification necessary to provide |
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workforce training; |
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(4) funding for training equipment that leads to |
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certification and employment; and |
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(5) other related support services to employers who |
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commit to establishing a place of business in this state. |
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(b) The executive director, or a person appointed by the |
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executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of |
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grants, is responsible for the distribution of grant money under |
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the program. |
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Sec. 316.004. FUNDING; USE OF FUNDS. (a) The commission, |
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for the purposes of this section, may use: |
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(1) money appropriated to the commission; and |
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(2) money from other appropriate, statutorily |
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authorized funding sources, including the JET program. |
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(b) The commission may commit money under the program to an |
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out-of-state employer contingent on the employer's establishment |
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or expansion of business operations in this state. |
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(c) Under the program, money may not be used to pay any |
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training costs or other related costs of an employer to relocate the |
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employer's worksite from one location in this state to another |
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location in this state. |
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Sec. 316.005. RULES. The commission may adopt rules as |
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necessary to implement this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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