Texas HB 2768: Relating to the issuance of an occupational driver's license.

Bill Text

89(R) HB 2768 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 H.B. No. 2768

  

  

  

  

 AN ACT

  

 relating to the development of a state information technology 

  

 apprenticeship credential offered by public junior colleges or 

  

 public technical institutes to address shortages in the state 

  

 information resources workforce.

  

        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

  

        SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is 

  

 amended by adding Section 2054.0702 to read as follows:

  

        Sec. 2054.0702.  STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

  

 APPRENTICESHIP CREDENTIAL. (a) In this section, "public junior 

  

 college" and "public technical institute" have the meanings 

  

 assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

  

        (b)  A state agency may enter into an agreement with a public 

  

 junior college district under Section 130.0081, Education Code, or 

  

 a public technical institute under Section 135.06, Education Code, 

  

 or other applicable law to offer a program leading to a state 

  

 information technology apprenticeship credential to address 

  

 shortages in the state information resources workforce.

  

        (c)  A program offered under this section must:

  

              (1)  be approved by the Texas Higher Education 

  

 Coordinating Board in accordance with Section 61.0512, Education 

  

 Code;

  

              (2)  develop the knowledge and skills necessary for a 

  

 journey- or senior-level information technology position in a state 

  

 agency; and

  

              (3)  include a one-year apprenticeship with:

  

                    (A)  a relevant state agency;

  

                    (B)  an organization working on a major 

  

 information resources project; or

  

                    (C)  a regional network security center 

  

 established under Section 2059.202.

  

        (d)  An apprenticeship described by Subsection (c)(3) may 

  

 be:

  

              (1)  an apprenticeship program registered with the 

  

 United States Department of Labor; or

  

              (2)  an industry-recognized apprenticeship program 

  

 offered by a public junior college or public technical institute 

  

 that:

  

                    (A)  adheres to academic and workforce standards 

  

 required by industry; and

  

                    (B)  provides for flexibility in course design and 

  

 implementation, including flexibility regarding the:

  

                          (i)  number of hours of classroom 

  

 instruction and on-the-job training required;

  

                          (ii)  competencies required for 

  

 credentialing; and

  

                          (iii)  goals for the program, as determined 

  

 by the employer partner and faculty of the institution.

  

        (e)  The executive director shall update the department's 

  

 intra-agency career ladder program to ensure that an associate 

  

 degree together with a credential awarded under this section m