(a) The commission may use state funds to provide education and training for its employees in accordance with the State Employee Training Act (Texas Government Code, §656.104).     
      (b) The commission's employee education and training program benefits both the commission and the employees participating by:      
        (1) Preparing for technological, scientific and professional 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.       
      (c) The commission's employee education and training program may include:      
        (1) Mandatory commission-sponsored training required for all employees;       
        (2) Education related to technical or professional certifications and licenses;       
        (3) Education and training related to the promotion of employee development;       
        (4) Employee partially funded external education;       
        (5) Commission funded external education, including continuing legal education, online courses, and courses not credited towards a degree; and       
        (6) Other commission sponsored education and training determined by the commission to fulfill the purposes of the State Employee Training Act.       
      (d) The education or training shall be related to the employee's current duties or prospective job duties within the agency.     
      (e) Participation in commission assisted 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) Reimbursement for completing program courses offered by institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education requires the approval of the Executive Director.     
      (g) When an employee seeks reimbursement for a training or education program offered by an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, the commission may only reimburse the tuition expenses or partial expenses for a program course successfully completed by the employee at an accredited institution of higher education.     
      (h) 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.     
      (i) Commission employees may be required to conduct training for other department employees based on the information or skills learned through an education or training program.     
      (j) 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.     
      (k) Permission to participate in any education and training program may be withdrawn if the commission determines, in its sole discretion, that participation would negatively affect the employee's job duties or performance.     
      (l) The executive director or designee shall develop policies for administering the employee and education program. These policies shall provide clear and objective guidelines and shall include, at a minimum, the following:      
        (1) Eligibility requirements for participation;       
        (2) Approval procedures for participation; and       
        (3) Obligations of program participants.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §59.14 adopted to be effective September 3, 2018, 43 TexReg 5677