AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Concerned parties assert that the authorities at community and technical colleges in Texas should be aware of whether the workforce training programs offered are enabling graduates to obtain well-paying jobs.  Conducting assessments of these training programs could provide such colleges with an understanding of how to more effectively train and prepare uniquely skilled labor pools.  C.S.H.B. 1297 seeks to increase the knowledge community and technical colleges have on the programs and training offered at the institutions to enhance the effectiveness of these programs and to ultimately impact state economic development

 

C.S.H.B. 1297 amends current law relating to the review of certain skills development fund workforce training programs.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 303.004, Labor Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 303.004.  FUND REVIEW.  (a) Creates this subsection from existing text.  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to review all customized training programs biennially to verify that state funds are being used appropriately by public community and technical colleges and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service under this chapter (Skills Development Fund).

 

(b) Requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and each public community or technical college that provides workforce training under this chapter, not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, to:

 

(1) conduct a review of the service's or college's training programs to:

 

(A) determine the effectiveness of the programs in improving the wages of participants who complete the programs; and

 

(B) identify strategies for improving the delivery of workforce training in order to more effectively impact economic development in this state; and

 

(2) submit to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) a detailed written report summarizing the results of the review for inclusion by the executive director of TWC (executive director) in the report to the governor and the legislature required by Section 303.006(c) (relating to requiring the executive director to report to the governor and the legislature at the end of each fiscal year the status of the program established under this chapter).

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.