89R8152 RDR-D     By: Hinojosa of Nueces S.B. No. 1114       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to eligibility for the Lone Star Workforce of the Future   Fund grant program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 134A.001, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:                (3)  "Qualifying general academic teaching   institution" means a general academic teaching institution as   defined by Section 61.003 that:                      (A)  has a student enrollment of less than 10,000;                      (B)  is located in a county with a population of   less than 35,000; and                      (C)  is designated by the United States Department   of Education as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).          SECTION 2.  Section 134A.006, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          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, qualifying   general academic teaching institutions, 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.          SECTION 3.  Section 134A.007, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 134A.007.  GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to   receive a grant under this chapter, a public junior college, public   technical institute, qualifying general academic teaching   institution, 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, qualifying general   academic teaching institutions, 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.          SECTION 4.  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, 2025.