Bill Text: TX SB635 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the development of a state information technology credential offered by public junior colleges to address shortages in the state information resources workforce.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-17 - Referred to s/c on Higher Education by Pres [SB635 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB635-Introduced.html
| 88R2504 CXP-F | ||
| By: Eckhardt | S.B. No. 635 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the development of a state information technology | ||
| credential offered by public junior colleges to address shortages | ||
| in the state information resources workforce. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 2054.061(b), Government Code, is amended | ||
| to read as follows: | ||
| (b) The department shall annually analyze: | ||
| (1) the department's staffing needs; | ||
| (2) the need for and cost-effectiveness of contracting | ||
| for consultants and outside staff; | ||
| (3) whether the department could use department staff | ||
| to accomplish tasks proposed for the consultants and outside staff; | ||
| [ |
||
| (4) whether and what type of training or additional | ||
| resources are necessary for the department to use the department's | ||
| own staff to accomplish tasks proposed for the consultants or | ||
| outside staff; and | ||
| (5) whether entering into an agreement with a public | ||
| junior college district under Section 2054.0701 is appropriate to | ||
| assist the department in meeting staffing needs. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 2054.0701 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 2054.0701. STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CREDENTIAL. | ||
| (a) The department may enter into an agreement with a public junior | ||
| college district under Section 130.0081, Education Code, to offer a | ||
| program leading to a state information technology credential to | ||
| address shortages in the state information resources workforce. | ||
| (b) 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 an | ||
| entry-level information technology position in a state agency; and | ||
| (3) include a one-year apprenticeship with: | ||
| (A) the department; | ||
| (B) another relevant state agency; | ||
| (C) an organization working on a major | ||
| information resources project; or | ||
| (D) a regional network security center | ||
| established under Section 2059.202. | ||
| (c) 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. | ||
| (d) 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. | ||
| (e) If a program offered under this section is not fully | ||
| funded through tuition and other money of the public junior college | ||
| district available for the purpose, the department may: | ||
| (1) use any money available to the department for the | ||
| purpose to offer a program under this section; and | ||
| (2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations | ||
| from any public or private source for purposes of offering a program | ||
| under this section. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
