SECTION 11.17. Employee Training and Education

(a) The commission may use state funds to provide education and training for its employees in accordance with the State Employees Training Act.

(b) The education or training shall be related to the employee's current position or prospective job duties within the commission.

(c) The commission's education and training program benefits both the agency 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) Commission employees may be required to complete an education or training program related to the employee's duties or prospective duties as a condition of employment.

(e) Participation in an education or training program requires the appropriate level of approval prior to participation and is subject to the availability of funds within the commission's budget.

(f) The employee education and training program for the agency may include:

(1) mandatory agency-sponsored training required for all employees;

(2) education relating to technical or professional certifications and licenses;

(3) education and training relating to the promotion of employee development;

(4) employee-funded external education;

(5) agency-funded external education; and

(6) other agency-sponsored education and training determined by the agency to fulfill the purposes of the State Employees Training Act.

(g) The commission's Executive Director shall designate an administrator of the agency's education and training program.

(h) The administrator shall develop policies for administering each of the components of the employee education and training program. These policies shall include:

(1) eligibility requirements for participation;

(2) approval procedures for participation; and

(3) obligations of program participants.

(i) Approval to participate in any portion of the commission's education and training program shall not in any way affect an employee's at-will status or constitute a guarantee or indication of continued employment, nor shall it constitute a guarantee or indication of future employment in a current or prospective position.

(j) Permission to participate in any education and training program may be withdrawn if the agency determines that participation would negatively impact the employee's job duties or performance.

(k) All materials received by an employee through commission-funded training or education are the property of the commission.

(l) Adoption of this rule is required of state agencies by Texas Government Code, §656.048.

Source Note: The provisions of this §11.17 adopted to be effective November 30, 2015, 40 TexReg 8640