81R1321 ALB-D
 
  By: Ellis S.B. No. 108
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment and funding of a green job skills
  training program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 481.078, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
         (l)  The fund may be used to make one or more grants to the
  Texas Workforce Commission to implement the commission's powers and
  duties relating to a green job skills training program.
  Subsections (e-1), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) do not apply to a
  grant under this subsection.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 490D to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 490D. GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND AND TRAINING
  PROGRAM
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 490D.001.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to:
               (1)  promote green industry employment opportunities,
  including through the establishment of training programs to enhance
  green job skills;
               (2)  foster regional collaboration for the development
  of green industry employment opportunities;
               (3)  assist in the development of a highly skilled and
  productive workforce in the green industry; and
               (4)  assist workers with obtaining education, skills
  training, and labor market information to enhance their
  employability, earnings, and standard of living.
         Sec. 490D.002.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
               (2)  "Development fund" means the Texas green job
  skills development fund.
               (3)  "Green job" means a job in the field of renewable
  energy or energy efficiency, including a job relating to:
                     (A)  energy-efficient building, construction, and
  retrofitting;
                     (B)  renewable electric power;
                     (C)  biofuels;
                     (D)  deconstruction and reuse of materials;
                     (E)  energy efficiency assessments;
                     (F)  manufacturing of sustainable products; and
                     (G)  manufacturing using sustainable processes
  and materials.
  [Sections 490D.003-490D.020 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER B. GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND
         Sec. 490D.021.  TEXAS GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND.
  (a) The Texas green job skills development fund is an account in
  the general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
               (1)  legislative appropriations;
               (2)  money received from the Texas enterprise fund
  under Section 481.078;
               (3)  gifts, grants, donations, and matching funds
  received under Subsection (b); and
               (4)  other money required by law to be deposited in the
  account.
         (b)  The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants,
  and donations of money from the federal government, local
  governments, private corporations, or other persons to be used for
  the purposes of this subchapter.
         (c)  Income from money in the account shall be credited to
  the account.
         (d)  Money in the development fund may be used only for the
  purposes of this chapter.
  [Sections 490D.022-490D.030 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER C. GREEN JOB SKILLS GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 490D.031.  ESTABLISHMENT OF GREEN JOB SKILLS GRANT
  PROGRAM. The commission shall establish a green job skills grant
  program, funded by the development fund under Section 490D.021,
  through which the commission may award grants for the
  implementation, expansion, and operation of green job skills
  training programs.
         Sec. 490D.032.  GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (a) A training
  program funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:
               (1)  be hosted by a regional partnership that includes
  at least:
                     (A)  one university, college, or technical
  school;
                     (B)  one chamber of commerce, local workforce
  agency, local employer, or other public or private participating
  entity; and
                     (C)  one economic development authority;
               (2)  assist an eligible individual in obtaining
  education, skills training, and labor market information to enhance
  the individual's employability in green industries; and
               (3)  assist in the development of a highly skilled and
  productive workforce in green industries.
         (b)  A training program awarded a grant under this subchapter
  shall target a population of eligible individuals for training that
  includes:
               (1)  workers in high-demand green industries who are in
  or preparing for high-wage occupations;
               (2)  workers in declining industries who may be
  retrained for high-wage occupations in a high-demand green
  industry;
               (3)  agriculture, timber, or energy sector workers who
  may be retrained for high-wage occupations in a high-demand green
  industry;
               (4)  veterans or past or present members of the armed
  forces of the United States, including the state military forces,
  or a reserve component of the armed forces or the national guard;
               (5)  unemployed workers; or
               (6)  individuals determined by the commission to be
  disadvantaged and in need of training to obtain employment.
         (c)  A training program may receive funding under this
  chapter for a period not to exceed three years.
         Sec. 490D.033.  APPLICATION. (a) A regional partnership,
  as described by Section 490D.032, may apply for a grant under this
  subchapter in the manner prescribed by the commission.
         (b)  The grant application must require the applicant to
  provide to the commission the applicant's plan to continue to
  operate the training program after the grant expires.
         Sec. 490D.034.  ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING
  GRANTS. In addition to the factors described by Sections 490D.032
  and 490D.033, in determining whether to award a grant to an
  applicant under this subchapter, the commission shall give
  preference to a training program that provides certification to a
  worker who receives green job skills training under the program.
         Sec. 490D.035.  STANDARDS. The commission by rule shall
  adopt standards for a green job skills training program awarded a
  grant under this subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules
  for the program under Subchapter C, Chapter 490D, Government Code,
  as added by this Act, not later than March 1, 2010.
         SECTION 4.  Implementation of the program under Subchapter
  C, Chapter 490D, Government Code, as added by this Act, is
  contingent on appropriation of funding by the legislature.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.