Bill > HB5194

This bill establishes two key workforce development initiatives to address skills gaps and employment needs in Texas. First, it creates a Rural Workforce Training Grant Program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission, which will provide targeted funding to entities like business associations, local workforce boards, and educational institutions in counties with populations under 200,000 to support job-specific training, apprenticeships, and workforce education. Grant funds can cover training materials, instructor fees, participant expenses, and administrative costs, and recipients must provide periodic reports on outcomes. The commission will also be required to submit an annual report to state leadership detailing grants awarded and program effectiveness. Second, the bill introduces a State Information Technology Apprenticeship Credential program, allowing state agencies to partner with junior colleges and technical institutes to create apprenticeship pathways in information technology. This program will develop skills for journey- or senior-level IT positions through a one-year apprenticeship with state agencies or relevant organizations, and importantly, allows participants with an associate degree and the specialized credential to potentially substitute for a traditional four-year bachelor's degree in job classifications. The legislation is designed to create more flexible, targeted workforce development solutions, particularly for rural areas and the technology sector, and will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Labor and Employment

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB5194