87R2349 SLB-F     By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 955       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to economic development and workforce retraining   opportunities in the transition to the use of clean energy sources.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 403.0285 to read as follows:          Sec. 403.0285.  COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND   WORKFORCE RETRAINING IN CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION. (a) In this   section, "committee" means the Committee on Economic Development   and Workforce Retraining in the Clean Energy Transition.          (b)  The governor shall appoint the Committee on Economic   Development and Workforce Retraining in the Clean Energy Transition   to assist the comptroller in identifying and evaluating economic   development and workforce retraining opportunities with regard to   the transition to clean energy sources.          (c)  The committee is composed of not more than 21 members   and shall include:                (1)  representatives of environmental justice   communities, environmental associations, and labor organizations;                (2)  at least five representatives of industries that   use large amounts of energy;                (3)  representatives of the renewable energy industry,   the oil and gas industry, including pipeline construction and   operation and refineries, and clean energy developers; and                (4)  at least one representative from each of the   following agencies:                      (A)  the comptroller of public accounts;                      (B)  the office of the governor;                      (C)  the Railroad Commission of Texas;                      (D)  the State Energy Conservation Office;                      (E)  the Texas Commission on Environmental   Quality;                      (F)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community   Affairs; and                      (G)  the Texas Workforce Commission.          (d)  The governor shall solicit nominations for the   committee and select from among those nominated to the extent   possible in order to meet the requirements of Subsection (c).          (e)  The committee shall advise the comptroller by   identifying:                (1)  opportunities for workforce development and   training related to energy efficiency measures, renewable energy,   and other clean energy technologies, with specific focus on   training and workforce opportunities for individuals from   disadvantaged communities and other groups that may be   underrepresented in the workforce, including veterans, women, and   formerly incarcerated persons;                (2)  industries that use large amounts of energy and   trades related to those industries;                (3)  impacts of the transition to the use of clean   energy sources on each sector of the state's workforce and ways to   maximize the skills and expertise of workers throughout the   transition;                (4)  sites of electric generating facilities that may   be closed as a result of the transition to the use of clean energy   sources and the issues and opportunities presented by reuse of   those sites;                (5)  potential effects of state or federal greenhouse   gas emissions limits on state industries and local communities,   including the impact of any potential carbon reduction measures on   the competitiveness of state business and industry; and                (6)  any other matters relevant to the workforce of the   state with regard to the transition to the use of clean energy   sources.          (f)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the   State Energy Conservation Office shall provide the committee with   facilities, data, and other assistance necessary for the committee   to carry out its duties under this section.  A state agency or   political subdivision of this state shall provide the committee   with facilities, data, and other assistance as requested by the   committee to carry out its duties under this section.          (g)  The committee may enter into an interagency agreement   with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Public   Utility Commission of Texas, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the   Texas Workforce Commission, or another state agency for technical   advice or assistance as necessary to complete the requirements of   this section.          SECTION 2.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2022, the   comptroller, with the advice of the Committee on Economic   Development and Workforce Retraining in the Clean Energy   Transition, shall prepare a report on the effects and opportunities   of the transition to clean energy, including:                (1)  issues and opportunities related to industries   that use large amounts of energy and trades associated with those   industries;                (2)  clean energy workforce development for:                      (A)  workers in industries that may be negatively   affected by the transition to the use of clean energy sources; and                      (B)  disadvantaged communities and other segments   of the population that are underrepresented in the state's   workforce;                (3)  measures to minimize the loss of jobs and industry   that would be associated with the imposition of any potential   greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies or other energy sector   mandates related to greenhouse gases;                (4)  the number of jobs that have been created to   counter climate change, including in the energy, building,   transportation, and working lands sectors;                (5)  the projection of the inventory of jobs needed and   the skills and training required to meet the demand of jobs to   counter climate change; and                (6)  other issues related to workforce disruption due   to community transitions from an economy based on fossil fuels.          (b)  The comptroller shall make the report described by   Subsection (a) of this section available to the public on the   comptroller's Internet website and deliver the report to:                (1)  the governor;                (2)  the lieutenant governor;                (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives; and                (4)  the chair and vice chair of the:                      (A)  House Environmental Regulation Committee;                      (B)  House State Affairs Committee;                      (C)  Senate Natural Resources Committee; and                      (D)  Senate Business and Commerce Committee.          (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.          SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2021, the governor   shall make the appointments to the Committee on Economic   Development and Workforce Retraining in the Clean Energy Transition   as required by Section 403.0285, Government Code, as added by this   Act.          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, 2021.