The bill, H.B. No. 1702, amends the Education Code to expand eligibility for the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund grant program. It introduces a new definition for "qualifying general academic teaching institution," which includes institutions with fewer than 10,000 students, located in counties with populations under 35,000, and designated as Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). This addition aims to ensure that smaller, minority-serving institutions can access funding to support workforce training programs.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that the grant program will provide funding to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, qualifying general academic teaching institutions, and nonprofit organizations that meet certain criteria. These criteria include administering performance-based workforce training programs, demonstrating successful outcomes in training and employment placement, and securing a significant portion of funding from non-state sources. The bill emphasizes collaboration with local businesses and organizations to align training programs with in-demand skills, thereby enhancing the career readiness of participants.

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