| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Negative | Neutral |
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and
Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce
education.
According to the Legislative
Budget Board: It is assumed that the direct costs associated with the bill's
provisions relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling
through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce education could be
absorbed using existing resources. However, there would be indeterminate fiscal
implications from the amounts and methods of funding for potential grants
authorized through the bill's provisions.
SB 1102 would establish The Texas
Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Initiative intended to
support workforce education at public junior colleges. The bill stipulates that the Texas Higher Education coordinating would award grants to public
junior colleges for creating, redesigning, or expanding workforce training
programs that lead to postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce
credentials required for high-demand occupations.
Texas Action is opposed to SB 1102 on the basis of limited government and personal responsibility. Our position and analysis are informed largely by the view that the purpose of education is to create an educated citizenry, not to create good employees for future employers. Considering this view, providing taxpayer subsidized workforce education is not the proper role of government.
If it is in the interest of workforce development to have a
program such as that proposed by this bill, private businesses that stand to
gain from employing certified individuals can pool resources and create their
own training and certification program. They may also work with charitable
organizations to help fund their programs. These free market and limited
government solutions to workforce development are preferable to creating or
expanding taxpayer subsidized programs.