EDUCATION CODE

TITLE 3. HIGHER EDUCATION

SUBTITLE G. NON-BACCALAUREATE SYSTEM

CHAPTER 134A. LONE STAR WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE FUND

Sec. 134A.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission.
(2)  "Public junior college" and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.002.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1)  create and sustain a utilization-driven supply of qualified workers for entry-level to mid-level jobs in high demand  occupations in this state;
(2)  address and close the gap between the skills needed by workers and the current skills of the available workforce in this state; 
(3)  increase the interest of current and future Texans to fill the available and emerging jobs in this state that require less education than a bachelor's degree but more than a high school diploma; and
(4)  strengthen the state's economy by increasing the competitiveness of businesses in this state and the recruitment of businesses to this state.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.003.  LONE STAR WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE FUND.  (a) The commission shall establish and administer the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund as a dedicated account in the general revenue fund.
(b)  The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:
(1)  any money appropriated by the legislature for the fund for purposes of this chapter;
(2)  interest earned on the investment of money in the fund; and
(3)  gifts, grants, and donations received for the fund.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.004.  ADVISORY BOARD.  (a)  An advisory board of education and workforce stakeholders is created to assist the commission in administering this chapter.
(b)  The advisory board is composed of six members who serve two-year terms and are appointed as follows:
(1)  one member appointed by the governor;
(2)  one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3)  one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(4)  one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(5)  one member appointed by the commission; and
(6)  the chair of the commission, who serves as the presiding officer.
(c)  The advisory board shall meet at least twice each calendar year, or as needed, to make recommendations on awarding grants under this chapter.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.005.  FUND USE.  Money in the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund may be used by the commission only to:
(1)  award grants as provided by this chapter; and
(2)  conduct, with a consortium of corporate partners identified by the commission as having available entry-level workforce demand, due diligence assessment reviews of entities receiving grants under this chapter.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.006.  LONE STAR WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE FUND GRANT PROGRAM.  The commission shall establish and administer the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund grant program to provide grants to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, and nonprofit organizations that apply to the commission in the manner prescribed by the commission and satisfy the eligibility criteria prescribed by Section 134A.007.  The commission shall award the grants on the advice and recommendations of the advisory board.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.007.  GRANT ELIGIBILITY.  To be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, a public junior college, public technical institute, or nonprofit organization must:
(1)  administer one or more performance-based workforce training programs that:
(A)  lead to skill development and experiences required for employment in high demand occupations in at least one career field identified and listed as a high-growth career field by:
(i)  the commission;
(ii)  the Texas Workforce Investment Council; or
(iii)  the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative established under Chapter 2308A, Government Code;
(B)  are developed and provided based on consultation with and input from employers who are hiring in high demand occupations;
(C)  create pathways to employment for program participants; and
(D)  are delivered through classroom-based or online instruction, work-based experiences internships, or apprenticeships, or through a combination of those methods;
(2)  demonstrate through third-party validated data successful outcomes in:
(A)  recruiting local unemployed and underemployed individuals to participate in the training program or programs;
(B)  training individuals with the skills needed to secure full-time employment paying at least a self-sufficient wage as determined under Section 2308A.012, Government Code, in the relevant job field; and
(C)  placing individuals in employment in high demand occupations;
(3)  demonstrate the ability to attract at least 40 percent of the necessary funding for training program operation from revenue streams other than state government funding; and
(4)  agree to:
(A)  collaborate with the commission, corporate partners, and nonprofit educational partners to determine the training programs to be provided using grant money;
(B)  secure support from local businesses to ensure alignment between training program offerings and in-demand skills;
(C)  collaborate with regional employers, public junior colleges, public technical institutes, or nonprofit organizations to make available developmental work-based experiences to further enhance training program participants' career readiness;
(D)  engage local entities and organizations, including local workforce development boards and community-based organizations, to assist with identifying and recruiting eligible training program participants;
(E)  provide documentation to the commission describing training program offerings, including information necessary to verify that the offerings will:
(i)  provide training that is not exclusive to a single corporate partner; and
(ii)  lead to knowledge, skills, and work-based experiences that are transferable to similar employment opportunities in high demand occupations offered by other employers; and
(F)  comply with any additional grant conditions prescribed by commission rule, including performance benchmarks established under Section 134A.008 and reporting requirements established under Section 134A.009.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.008.  PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS.  (a)  The commission by rule shall establish performance benchmarks for entities receiving grants under this chapter.  The benchmarks must include a requirement that an entity facilitate the successful transition of at least 50 percent of the entity's training program participants from low wage work or unemployment to full-time jobs offering a self-sufficient wage as determined under Section 2308A.012, Government Code, and the opportunity for career mobility, as determined by the commission, within six months of training program completion.
(b)  The commission by rule shall require reimbursement on a pro rata basis by an entity that does not meet a performance benchmark required by this section.
(c)  An entity is not required to comply with a performance benchmark required by this section if the entity's compliance is not possible because of an act of God, force majeure, or a similar cause not reasonably within the entity's control.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.009.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  The commission by rule shall require each entity receiving a grant under this chapter to submit progress reports to the commission at least twice annually.  Each progress report must include the following information relating to a training program funded by the grant:
(1)  the number of participants;
(2)  an update on progress toward performance benchmarks;
(3)  a description of any key accomplishments achieved, lessons learned, or setbacks or risks incurred by the entity in administering the training program;
(4)  an explanation of any material changes to the training program's work plan, team, or budget; and
(5)  the amount of grant money spent by the entity during the reporting period.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.010.  GRANT AMOUNT.  The amount of a grant awarded to an entity under this chapter for a training program may not exceed $15,000 per training program participant.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.011.  GRANT USE.  An entity may use grant money received under this chapter only for:
(1)  curriculum development;
(2)  instructor fees and certifications;
(3)  training materials;
(4)  work-related expenses;
(5)  work-based experience stipends;
(6)  related wraparound services important to help ensure success for training program participants as determined by commission rule; and
(7)  administrative costs as determined by commission rule, except that the amount used by an entity for that purpose may not exceed 10 percent of the total amount of grant money received by the entity.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 134A.012.  RULES.  The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this chapter.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.