(a) Components of program. The employee training program
for the department consists of one or more of the following components:
(1) Agency-sponsored training to include in-house training
sessions and on-the-job training;
(2) Formal training program conducted through the National
Credit Union Administration as administrator of the National Credit
Union Share Insurance Fund.
(3) Seminars and conferences; and
(4) Formal course of study at an accredited institution
of higher education.
(b) In order for the cost of training and the time
related to that training to be reimbursed by the department, the employee
must demonstrate that the course has direct applicability to the employee's
job with the department. Attendance at an approved training session
described in subsection (a)(1)-(3) will be considered part of the
employee's normal work duties and will not require the employee to
use accrued leave to attend.
(c) Requests to attend an external training program,
seminar or conference pursuant to this section must be approved by
the commissioner. Approval of a request is contingent upon availability
of funds. If limited funds are available, and more than one employee
wishes to participate, a decision regarding who will attend will be
based upon the extent of their previous use of funds, the training's
merit and its value to the department's operations.
(d) Continuing education courses. Continuing education
courses required by licensing or certifying bodies for employees to
maintain a professional license or designation will only be reimbursed
if such courses relate directly to the employee's job duties with
the department and there are funds available.
(e) Tuition reimbursement. The Commissioner must authorize
in writing the reimbursement of tuition in accordance with this subsection.
(1) The department may reimburse full-time employees
for part or all of tuition and required fees for formal courses of
study described in subsection (a)(4) provided the eligibility criteria
set forth below are met.
(A) An employee must have completed 24 consecutive
months of full-time employment with the department prior to requesting
approval to receive tuition reimbursement. However, the 24-month requirement
may be waived if the commissioner finds that the employee needs a
particular course to fulfill his or her work duties.
(B) An employee must be performing consistently above
that normally expected or required and must have achieved an overall
performance rating of at least 3.50 on the employee's most recent
performance evaluation.
(C) An employee must not have been subject to formal
disciplinary action for at least twelve months prior to requesting
approval. As used in this section, "disciplinary action"
includes a formal written reprimand, suspension without pay, or salary
reduction for disciplinary reasons.
(D) The course work must be related to a current or
prospective duty assignment within the department.
(E) An employee, before the course begins, must agree
in writing to the repayment requirement stated in this subsection.
(F) At the time of the request for approval to receive
tuition reimbursement, comparable training must not be scheduled to
be offered in-house or through the National Credit Union Administration
during the period of time covered by the tuition reimbursement.
(G) The employee's participation must not adversely
affect workload or performance.
(H) The employee must complete the course within the
semester for which tuition reimbursement was requested.
(I) The employee must receive a passing grade in the
course. A passing grade is a grade which will entitle the employee
to receive credit for the course from the educational institution
offering the course.
(2) Reimbursable costs. Criteria addressing the extent
to which cost of tuition may be reimbursed are as follows:
(A) The maximum amount an employee may be reimbursed
for an approved tuition reimbursement request is $250 per semester,
not to exceed $500 per fiscal year. The maximum amount of reimbursement
may be increased up to $400 per semester for good cause shown upon
approval by the commissioner.
(B) Reimbursable costs include tuition, related fees,
and required textbooks and workbooks. Employees will not be reimbursed
for auditing a course.
(C) Costs described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph
will be paid to the employee at the completion of the course upon
the employee submitting proof that the course was completed and a
passing grade was received.
(3) Repayment. Should an employee separate from department
service within 12 months of completion of the course, the employee
must reimburse the department for all reimbursable costs expended
by the department for that course in accordance with section 656.103
of the Texas Government Code (relating to Restrictions on Certain
Training Costs). The commission may adopt an order waiving this requirement
upon finding that such action is in the best interest of the department
or is warranted because of an extreme personal hardship suffered by
the employee.
(4) Prohibition on use of state resources. Employees
may not use department equipment, such as computers, calculators or
typewriters to complete course work.
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