89R23322 DNC-D     By: Bhojani, Bell of Kaufman, Longoria, H.B. No. 4443       Lujan, Ordaz     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4443:     By:  Button C.S.H.B. No. 4443       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of   a pilot program to train workers for careers in energy-efficient   technologies.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code is amended   by adding Section 302.02015 to read as follows:          Sec. 302.02015.  CAREERS IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES   PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency.                (2)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.                (3)  "Public junior college" and "public technical   institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education   Code.          (b)  The commission, in consultation with the agency and the   coordinating board, shall establish and administer a pilot program   in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area under which the   commission partners with public junior colleges, public technical   institutes, and energy-efficient technology employers to provide   necessary education and training to students for entry into jobs in   industries using energy-efficient technologies.          (c)  Subject to coordinating board approval, a public junior   college or public technical institute participating in the program   may offer dual credit courses to high school students or   college-level courses to high school graduates participating in the   pilot program.           (d)  The commission, in consultation with the agency and the   coordinating board, shall establish:                (1)  curriculum requirements for courses and training   offered under the pilot program;                (2)  eligibility criteria for a student or an   energy-efficient technology employer to participate in the pilot   program; and                (3)  a certificate of completion the commission may   award to a pilot program participant for the successful completion   of a course of study and training in energy-efficient technologies   under the pilot program.           (e)  Under the pilot program, the commission shall ensure   that the local workforce development board serving the workforce   development area in which the pilot program is administered   maintains the following information for each pilot program   participant following program completion, disaggregated by race,   ethnicity, sex, income, and location:                 (1)  the evaluation data described by Section   302.082(b); and                 (2)  data regarding the attainment of employment within   the field of energy-efficient technologies.           (f)  The commission, agency, and coordinating board may   adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this section.          (g)  Not later than December 1, 2030, the commission shall   evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program at enhancing the   entry rate of participants into careers in energy-efficient   technologies and report the results of the evaluation to the   legislature.  The report must include the commission's   recommendation on whether the pilot program should be implemented   on a statewide basis.           (h)  This section expires September 1, 2031.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.