The commission may award apprenticeship training grants only to reimburse eligible persons, and only for participants who complete the program and stay suitably employed for 12 consecutive months.
Sec. 302.256. GRANT AWARD; GRANT AMOUNT. (a) The commission may award grants under this subchapter only to reimburse an eligible person for the cost of training industry-recognized apprenticeship program participants who: (1) complete a program operated by the person that meets the requirements of Section 302.255(4) having achieved the skills level required by Section 302.255(4)(D); and (2) maintain suitable employment for at least 12 consecutive months immediately following completion of the program. (b) Grant funds awarded to an eligible person under this subchapter must be awarded on a per industry-recognized apprenticeship program participant basis. The amount of a grant awarded to an eligible person for training a participant described by Subsection (a) may not exceed the lesser of: (1) the total cost to the person for training the participant, excluding wages and benefits; or (2) $10,000. (c) In determining the amount of a grant awarded under this subchapter for an industry-recognized apprenticeship program participant, the commission may consider the increased economic value to the state resulting from or reasonably anticipated to result from the participant's completion of the program, including by considering any increase or anticipated increase in the amount of tax revenue generated by the participant, and any decrease in the participant's use of a state-funded benefit, attributable to the participant's job placement and earning projections. The commission by rule may establish guidelines or formulas for determining an increase in economic value to the state attributable to a participant's program completion for purposes of this subsection. (d) The commission by rule may establish limitations on the total amount of grant funds that a person may be awarded under this subchapter. (e) The commission by rule may distribute payments constituting a partial reimbursement to an eligible person as milestones for on-the-job training and employment are met by program participants, in accordance with the grant terms. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1142 (H.B. 2784), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 435 (H.B. 3260), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.