(a) The purposes of the agency's training program are all work-related, and include meeting technological or legal requirements, developing additional work skill capabilities, or increasing competence or performance. The agency's training program includes all education, workshops, seminars, and similar instruction.
(b) The agency may provide training to any of its employees to enable them to perform their current duties more effectively. The agency may also provide training to selected employees to enable them to perform prospective duties needed by the agency.
(c) The agency may require an employee to attend any necessary training program.
(d) Employee training must be recommended by the division director and approved by the director and librarian or designee.
(e) When training is approved, the agency will either pay the training costs or allow the employee's schedule to accommodate the training (by rearranging work hours or allowing the training to be taken as work time), or both.
(f) After attending training, an employee must submit a report of the training to the Human Resources Office of the agency within three working days. The employee must make an oral or written presentation to other employees, if requested.
(g) An employee who fails to complete the training must reimburse the agency for the cost of the training, except for reasons beyond the employee's control.
(h) In this section, "special training" means instruction, teaching, or other education received by a state employee that is not normally received by other state employees and that is designed to enhance the ability of the employee to perform the employee's job. Special training does not include training required by either state or federal law or that is determined necessary by the agency and offered to all employees performing similar jobs. Special training does include a course of study at an institution of higher education.
(i) The agency may provide special training to selected employees to enhance their ability to perform their current or prospective duties.
(j) Employees must be recommended by their division director and approved by the assistant state librarian for special training.
(k) If an employee is to receive special training that will be paid by the agency, and during the training period the employee will not perform regular duties for three or more months as a result of the training, the employee must agree in writing to the requirements of Government Code §656.103 and §656.104.
(l) An employee may be released from these requirements if the commission in open meeting finds that such action is in the best interest of the agency, or because an extreme personal hardship would be suffered by the employee.

Source Note: The provisions of this §2.56 adopted to be effective July 4, 2001, 26 TexReg 4871; amended to be effective May 12, 2004, 29 TexReg 4463; amended to be effective March 12, 2024, 49 TexReg 1458