(a)The Commission may [use state funds to]
provide training and education for its employees in accordance with
Subchapter C, Chapter 656, Texas Government Code [the State
Employees Training Act (Texas Government Code, §§656.041
- 656.049)].
(b)The Commission may spend public funds as appropriate
to pay the costs associated with employee training, including, but
not limited to, salary, tuition and other fees, travel, and living
expenses, training stipend, expense of training materials and other
necessary expenses of an instructor, student or other participant
in a training or education program [training or education
shall be related to the duties or prospective duties of the employee].
(c)The executive director shall adopt policies
related to training for Commission employees, including eligibility
and obligations assumed upon completion. [Commission's
training and education program benefits both the Commission and the
employees participating by:]
[(1)preparing for technological and
legal developments;]
[(2)increasing work capabilities;]
[(3)increasing the number of qualified
employees in areas for which the Commission has difficulty in recruiting
and retaining employees; and]
[(4)increasing the competence of
Commission employees].
(d)Before an employee may receive reimbursement
of tuition expenses for successful completion of a training or education
program offered by an accredited institution of higher education,
the executive director must pre-approve the program and authorize
the tuition reimbursement payment [A Commission employee
may be required to attend, as part of the employee's duties, a training
or education program related to the employee's duties or prospective
duties].
[(e)Approval to participate in a
training or education program is not automatic and is subject to the
availability of funds within the Commission's budget.]
[(f)The employee training and education
program for the Commission shall include:]
[(1)agency-sponsored training provided in-house or
by contract;]
[(2)seminars and conferences;]
[(3)technical or professional certifications and licenses;
and]
[(4)tuition reimbursement for degree and non-degree
program courses.]
[(g)The Administrator or Administrator's
designee shall develop policies for administering each of the components
of the employee training and education program. These policies shall
include:]
[(1)eligibility requirements for participation;]
[(2)designation of appropriate level of approval for
participation; and]
[(3)obligations of program participants.]
(e)[(h)] Approval to participate
in any portion of the Commission's training and education program does
not [shall not in any way] affect an employee's at-will
status.
(f)[(i)] Participation in the
training and education program does not [shall not
in any way] constitute a guarantee or indication of continued
employment, nor does [shall] it constitute a
guarantee or indication of future employment in a current or prospective
position.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed
the
proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority
to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on August 11, 2017
TRD-201703081 Kerri Lewis
General Counsel
Texas Real Estate Commission
Earliest possible date of adoption: September 24, 2017
For further information, please call: (512) 936-3092
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