The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Grant Recipient--An entity within Texas that is awarded TIRA funds by the Agency. Grant recipients must cooperate and comply with all contract requirements and Agency monitoring activities, as required by Chapter 802, Subchapter D of this title (relating to Agency Monitoring Activities).
  (2) Eligible Grant Applicant--An entity, as specified in state law, that is eligible to receive TIRA funding. Eligible grant applicants may include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (A) Trade and industry groups
    (B) Corporations
    (C) Nonprofit organizations
    (D) Educational institutions
    (E) Unions
    (F) Joint labor-management organizations
  (3) Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship--A training program that:
    (A) provides on-the-job training, preparatory instruction, supplementary instruction, or related instruction:
      (i) in an occupation that has been recognized as an apprenticeable occupation; and
      (ii) under an industry-recognized and accredited training curriculum;
    (B) guarantees employment to participants during and upon successful completion of the training period;
    (C) pays each participant a progressive wage and provides eligibility for participants to receive full-time employee benefits during and upon successful completion of the training period, equal to or above the impacted local workforce development area's (workforce area) self-sufficiency wage;
    (D) requires participants to advance their skills, at a minimum, to a credentialed, performance-verified mid-level status in a field related to the TIRA;
    (E) has a duration of no longer than 26 weeks; and
    (F) gives preference to training and hiring:
      (i) unemployed Texans who have registered with the Agency;
      (ii) veterans of the United States armed forces;
      (iii) formerly incarcerated individuals; and
      (iv) underemployed individuals who are working without industry-recognized certifications or other credentials.
  (4) Participant--An individual training in a TIRA under an apprenticeship agreement who:
    (A) is a full-time paid worker, receiving benefits and employed in the private sector during training;
    (B) maintains suitable employment for at least 12 consecutive months immediately following completion of the training program; and
    (C) receives related instructional training to learn a skill in a certified apprenticeable occupation that advances his or her skills to a credentialed, performance-verified mid-level status in the occupation, as identified by the Agency.

Source Note: The provisions of this §838.2 adopted to be effective December 28, 2020, 45 TexReg 9573; amended to be effective November 20, 2023, 48 TexReg 6746