HB 3173
AN ACT relating to certain planning, notification, and evaluation
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Enhances workforce development programs in Texas by focusing on young people aged 16-25, requiring governmental entities to notify workforce boards about financial incentives that create 100+ jobs, and mandating annual evaluations of workforce development activities. The legislation requires detailed tracking of employment assistance, educational re-enrollment, and workforce training for youth, with the Texas Workforce Commission required to report comprehensive findings to the legislature every two years. The goal is to improve employment opportunities and support for younger workers by creating more transparent and targeted workforce development strategies.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to certain planning, notification, and evaluation requirements with respect to workforce development programs in this BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2308.304, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: (c-1) In establishing goals, objectives, and performance measures for segments of the population under Subsection (c), the plan must establish specific goals, objectives, and performance measures for individuals who are at least 16 years of age but SECTION 2. Chapter 2308, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter H to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER H. DUTIES OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS AND DIVISION Sec. 2308.351. NOTICE OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVE. (a) In this (1) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce (2) "Financial incentive" means a financial benefit, including a grant, loan, or tax preference, or a combination of those benefits, offered by a governmental entity to any person. (3) "Governmental entity" means a state agency or political subdivision of this state, including a municipality or (b) A governmental entity that provides a financial incentive that results in the creation of at least 100 estimated new employment opportunities shall, not later than the 30th day after the date the governmental entity approves the financial incentive, notify the commission and any local workforce development board operating in a workforce development area where the financial incentive is distributed of the plan to distribute the financial (c) The notice required by Subsection (b) must include: (1) the estimated number of new employment opportunities the financial incentive will create; (2) the estimated start date for each new employment opportunity created by the financial incentive; and (3) a description of the skills and training necessary for applicants for each new employment opportunity created by the SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 302.087 to read as follows: Sec. 302.087. EVALUATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. (a) The commission shall annually evaluate: (1) the effectiveness of the commission's workforce (2) the best practices for allocating workforce development funds to and by local workforce development boards to: (A) meet the current and projected workforce needs of employers in workforce development areas; and (B) provide workforce development services to individuals who are at least 16 years of age but younger than 25 (b) The evaluation under Subsection (a) must include: (1) a calculation of the respective percentages of workforce funds spent annually on efforts to: (A) increase employment among individuals who are at least 16 years of age but younger than 25 years of age; (B) reenroll individuals who have dropped out of a public or open-enrollment charter school and who are at least 16 years of age but younger than 25 years of age; and (C) facilitate the participation of individuals who are at least 16 years of age but less than 25 years of age in postsecondary education, technical education, or the military; (2) the respective numbers of individuals who are at least 16 years of age but younger than 25 years of age who: (A) have dropped out of a public or open-enrollment charter school and are assisted in reenrollment (B) receive assistance in participating in postsecondary education, technical education, or the military; (3) for each local workforce development area: (A) the respective numbers of individuals who are at least 16 years of age but younger than 25 years of age who: (i) are eligible for workforce development (ii) annually receive workforce development services, including the number receiving assistance in enrolling in high school, a high school equivalency program, an apprenticeship program, an institution of higher education, a technical school, or the military; and (B) the total number of workforce development service providers actively serving individuals who are at least 16 years of age but younger than 25 years of age in the area; (4) for each local workforce development board, an assessment of the board's current use of workforce funds to determine and meet the current and projected workforce needs of employers in the workforce development area; (5) examples of efforts to reach individuals who are at least 16 years of age but less than 25 years of age in which the commission and local workforce development boards coordinated with each of the following respective entities: (A) the Texas Education Agency, school districts, or open-enrollment charter schools; (B) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or institutions of higher education; and (C) the Department of Family and Protective (6) examples of efforts to meet current and projected workforce needs in which the commission and local workforce development boards coordinated with each of the following (A) private employers or other members of the (B) workforce development service providers. (c) The commission shall make the evaluation conducted under Subsection (a), any information collected in the course of conducting the evaluation, and any findings of the commission arising from the evaluation readily available to local workforce development boards, employers, institutions of higher education, school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and the public. (d) Not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the commission shall make a report to the legislature detailing the commission's findings on the effectiveness of the commission's workforce development program. The report must include: (1) the information described by Subsection (b); (2) employment outcome information for individuals who are at least 16 years of age but less than 25 years of age, disaggregated by local workforce development area; (3) an analysis of multiyear trends identifiable from the information contained in the evaluation conducted under Subsection (a), including any identifiable trends that show positive impacts of workforce development programs on workforce participation of individuals who are at least 16 years of age but (4) the commission's recommendation for legislative or regulatory action, including recommendations for regulatory action by other governmental entities. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to certain planning, notification, and evaluation
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