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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and |
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Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce |
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education at two-year public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter T-2 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER T-2. TEXAS RESKILLING AND UPSKILLING THROUGH EDUCATION |
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(TRUE) PROGRAM |
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Sec. 61.881. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Eligible institution" means a public junior |
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college or public state college. |
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(2) "Program" means the Texas Reskilling and |
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Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program established under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.882. ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION; PURPOSE. (a) |
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The Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) |
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Program is established to strengthen the Texas workforce and build |
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a stronger Texas economy. |
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(b) The board shall administer the program in accordance |
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with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter. |
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(c) Under the program, using funds appropriated or |
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otherwise available for the purpose, the board shall award grants |
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to eligible institutions or consortiums of eligible institutions |
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for creating, redesigning, or expanding workforce training |
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programs and delivering education and workforce training that lead |
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to postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce |
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credentials required for high-demand occupations. |
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(d) In awarding grants under this subchapter, the board: |
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(1) shall, to the greatest extent practicable, award |
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grants to at least one eligible institution in each region of the |
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state; and |
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(2) may give preference to applicants that: |
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(A) represent a consortium of eligible |
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institutions; or |
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(B) prioritize training to displaced workers. |
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Sec. 61.883. USE OF GRANT. (a) A grant awarded to an |
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eligible institution or a consortium of eligible institutions under |
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this subchapter may be used only for the support and maintenance of |
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educational and general activities that promote workforce learning |
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at the institution or a member institution, as applicable, |
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including: |
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(1) providing training in existing, new, or redesigned |
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accelerated programs that teach high-demand skills and lead to |
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postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce |
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credentials valued in growing occupations; |
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(2) developing new industry-aligned, high-demand |
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postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce |
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credentials and certificate programs or other courses of |
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instruction leading to those certifications or credentials that can |
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be completed in six months or less; |
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(3) redesigning existing postsecondary industry |
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certifications or credentials and certificate programs or other |
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courses of instruction leading to those certifications or |
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credentials to meet the standards under Subdivision (2); and |
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(4) expanding institutional capacity to provide |
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high-demand postsecondary industry certifications or other |
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workforce credentials that are stackable in high-demand career |
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pathways and address the needs of high-demand occupations |
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identified by the Texas Workforce Commission or applicable local |
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workforce development boards. |
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(b) Money received by an eligible institution or a |
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consortium of eligible institutions under the program in a fiscal |
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year that is not used by the institution or a member institution, as |
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applicable, in that fiscal year may be held and used by the |
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institution or consortium in subsequent fiscal years for the |
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purposes prescribed in this section. |
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Sec. 61.884. RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS. (a) |
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The board, in collaboration with eligible institutions, the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, and private employers, shall identify |
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existing and develop new postsecondary industry certifications or |
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other workforce credentials valued in high-demand occupations. |
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(b) The board, in consultation with eligible institutions, |
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shall: |
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(1) identify postsecondary industry certifications or |
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other workforce credentials developed or redesigned using grant |
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funds under the program; and |
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(2) establish methods for collecting and reporting |
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data related to the certifications or credentials identified under |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(c) An eligible institution or a consortium of eligible |
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institutions awarded a grant under this subchapter may recommend |
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outcomes related to the achievement or development of postsecondary |
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industry certifications or other workforce credentials identified |
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under this section to be considered by the board for inclusion in |
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the state's long-range master plan for higher education developed |
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under Section 61.051. |
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(d) In devising its funding formulas and making its |
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recommendations to the legislature relating to institutional |
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appropriations of funds for eligible institutions under Section |
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61.059, the board shall incorporate the consideration of the |
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achievement or development of postsecondary industry |
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certifications and other workforce credentials identified under |
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this section. |
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Sec. 61.885. GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may |
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solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any |
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public or private source for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.886. RULES. The board shall adopt rules for the |
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administration of this subchapter, including rules requiring |
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eligible institutions awarded a grant under this subchapter to |
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report necessary information to the board. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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award grants under Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act, beginning with the 2021 fall semester. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |