89R11459 KSD-F     By: Dutton H.B. No. 2800       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the apprenticeship system of adult career and   technology education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 61.8235(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The board, with the assistance of institutions of higher   education, career and technical education experts, and college and   career readiness experts, shall establish alignment between the   college and career readiness standards and the knowledge, skills,   and abilities students are expected to demonstrate in career and   technical education by establishing programs of study that:                (1)  incorporate rigorous college and career readiness   standards, including career and technical education standards that   address both academic and technical content;                (2)  support attainment of employability and career   readiness skills;                (3)  progress in content specificity by beginning with   all aspects of an industry or career cluster and leading to more   occupationally specific instruction or by preparing students for   ongoing postsecondary career preparation;                (4)  incorporate multiple entry and exit points with   portable demonstrations of technical or career competency, which   may include credit transfer agreements or industry-recognized   certifications; and                (5)  culminate in the attainment of:                      (A)  an industry-recognized certification,   credential, or license;                      (B)  a registered apprenticeship;                      (C)  an apprenticeship certified by the Texas   Workforce Commission as an industry-recognized apprenticeship   program as provided by commission rule;                      (D)  a [or] credit-bearing postsecondary   certificate; or                      (E) [(C)]  an associate or baccalaureate degree.          SECTION 2.  Section 133.001(1), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (1)  "Apprenticeship training program" means a   training program that provides on-the-job training, preparatory   instruction, supplementary instruction, or related instruction in   a trade that has been:                      (A)  certified as an apprenticeable occupation by   the Office of Apprenticeship; or                      (B)  recognized as an apprenticeable occupation   by the commission as provided by commission rule.          SECTION 3.  Sections 133.002(d) and (h), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (d)  Each apprentice participating in a program must be given   a written apprenticeship agreement by the apprenticeship committee   stating the standards and conditions of the apprentice's employment   and training.  The standards must conform substantially with the   standards of apprenticeship for the particular trade which have   been adopted by the Office of Apprenticeship or by the commission by   rule.          (h)  A program must be:                (1)  registered with the Office of Apprenticeship and   approved by the commission; or                (2)  certified by the commission as an   industry-recognized apprenticeship program as provided by   commission rule.          SECTION 4.  Chapter 133, Education Code, is amended by   adding Sections 133.0025 and 133.0065 to read as follows:          Sec. 133.0025.  PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS FOR CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL   STUDENTS.  The commission by rule shall establish procedures and   standards by which the commission may allocate funds available for   the support of apprenticeship training programs under this chapter   to support pre-apprenticeships designed for high school students   enrolled in career and technical education programs of study   leading to employment in high-wage, high-demand occupations. The   standards must:                (1)  be developed in coordination with the Texas   Education Agency or Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and                (2)  ensure that any committee overseeing a   pre-apprenticeship:                      (A)  excludes from its membership any bargaining   agent representing apprenticeable occupations certified by the   Office of Apprenticeship;                      (B)  includes at least one member who is a   representative of a community-based organization that demonstrates   evidence of success in coordinating and managing job placement   services for at least one industry served by the committee; and                      (C)  maintains, as a majority of the committee's   membership, members who represent employers.          Sec. 133.0065.  PUBLICATION OF WAGE OUTCOMES. The   commission shall publish on the commission's Internet website and   include in the unified repository for education and workforce data   developed under Section 2308A.005, Government Code, wage outcome   data for apprentices who complete an apprenticeship training   program.          SECTION 5.  Section 133.007, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 133.007.  RULES. The commission shall adopt   [promulgate] rules necessary to implement the provisions of this   chapter, including rules establishing:                (1)  which occupations are recognized by the commission   as an apprenticeable occupation, based on criteria which must   include that the occupation:                      (A)  be a high-wage, high-demand occupation;                      (B)  be customarily learned in a practical way   through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job supervised   training;                      (C)  be clearly identified and commonly   recognized throughout an industry;                      (D)  involve manual, mechanical, or technical   skills or knowledge which requires significant on-the-job work   experience; and                      (E)  require related instruction to supplement   the on-the-job training;                (2)  standards of apprenticeship for particular   trades; and                (3)  a process for and the criteria by which the   commission may certify a training or apprenticeship program as an   industry-recognized apprenticeship program, which must include:                      (A)  a requirement that the training or program   lead to employment in a high-wage, high-demand occupation; and                      (B)  criteria generally consistent with the   standards of apprenticeship as determined by the commission.          SECTION 6.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the rules   required by Chapter 133, Education Code, as amended by this Act.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.