1. (a) The agency may provide training and education for its employees in accordance with Government Code, Chapter 656, Subchapters C and D. The agency will develop policies for training and education provided or funded by the agency under the training and education program.

2. (b) The agency's employee training and education program may include, but is not limited to, the following:

   1. (1) agency sponsored training;
   2. (2) seminars and conferences;
   3. (3) internet training; and
   4. (4) tuition reimbursement.
3. (c) 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.
4. (d) The agency may require an employee to attend any necessary training program.
5. (e) Employee training must be recommended by the division director and approved by the director and librarian or designee. Approval to participate in a training program is not automatic and may be subject to the availability of funds within a division's budget.
6. (f) 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.

7. (g) Certain obligations may be required of employees on completion of training, including, but not limited to, the following:

   1. (1) After attending training, an employee must submit a report of the training to the Human Resources Office of the agency within three working days; and
   2. (2) An employee may be required to make an oral or written presentation regarding information obtained from the training to other employees.
8. (h) An employee who fails to complete training the agency has paid for must reimburse the agency for the cost of the training, unless the employee failed to complete the training for reasons beyond the employee's control.
9. (i) The agency offers a Tuition Assistance Program to provide additional opportunities to enhance employee job skills and to retain a well-qualified, trained, professional workforce dedicated to the agency's mission. The Tuition Assistance Program includes 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.

10. (j) Employees who wish to apply for the Tuition Assistance Program must receive approval for participation from their supervisor and human resources and complete the Tuition Assistance Application and Reimbursement form. To be eligible for participation in the Tuition Assistance Program, employees must:

    1. (1) Be continuously employed by the agency for at least one year at the time of application;
    2. (2) Maintain satisfactory job performance (or better) as documented in their current performance evaluation; and
    3. (3) Have no disciplinary action during the six months prior to application.
11. (k) An employee participating in the Tuition Assistance Program must agree in writing, prior to beginning the coursework or examination, to a one-year service commitment to the agency. Employees who do not comply with the length of the service requirement must reimburse the agency for the amount of reimbursements received.
12. (l) A reimbursement to an employee or administrator for tuition under the provisions of Government Code, §656.047 must be approved by the director and librarian before the reimbursement is paid.
13. (m) 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.

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; amended to be effective March 10, 2026, 51 TexReg 1375.