TITLE: Relating to providing certain students in this state with career opportunities in state agencies through the Texas pathways program.

SUMMARY: Relating to providing certain students in this state with career opportunities in state agencies through the Texas pathways program.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to providing certain students in this state with career opportunities in state agencies through the Texas pathways program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Texas State Employee Pathways Act. SECTION 2. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by adding Chapter 320 to read as follows: CHAPTER 320. TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEE PATHWAYS PROGRAM Sec. 320.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. (2) "Program" means the Texas state employee pathways program established under this chapter. (3) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 651.007, Government Code. Sec. 320.002. PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the Texas state employee pathways program to encourage skilled students in this state, including students enrolled in technical, graduate, and postgraduate programs, to seek career opportunities with state agencies. (b) In carrying out the program, the commission shall: (1) establish partnerships between the commission and institutions of higher education; (2) educate students enrolled in institutions of higher education on careers in state agencies, including benefits offered to state employees; (3) coordinate with other state agencies to determine the workforce needs of each state agency; and (4) seek out and refer students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education to career opportunities identified by the commission under Subdivision (3), including internships that may lead to full-time job placement. (c) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.