H.B. No. 5194 aims to enhance the efficiency of state workforce development programs and apprenticeship pathways to tackle workforce shortages in Texas. The bill introduces a new section, 302.0039, to the Labor Code, establishing the Rural Workforce Training Grant Program. This program is designed to provide targeted funding for job-specific workforce training and related services to improve the skills and career opportunities of the rural workforce. Grants will be awarded to various entities, including public and private organizations, that offer training and apprenticeship programs in counties with populations under 200,000. The bill outlines the permissible uses of grant funds, reporting requirements for recipients, and allows the Texas Workforce Commission to solicit additional funding for the program.

Additionally, the bill adds Section 2054.0702 to the Government Code, which allows state agencies to collaborate with public junior colleges or technical institutes to create a state information technology apprenticeship credential program. This initiative aims to address shortages in the state's information resources workforce by providing approved programs that develop necessary skills and include a one-year apprenticeship. The bill also mandates updates to the career ladder program to recognize the new credential as a substitute for a four-year degree in relevant job classifications. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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