BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3264

By: Dominguez

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, many employees lack the workplace soft skills necessary for the efficient operation of a business or organization. Oftentimes, employees do not have training on workplace etiquette, effective communication, leadership skills, and organizational skills that workers in today's job market are typically expected to possess. There have been calls to educate the state workforce regarding these skills to ensure that all workplaces in Texas are able to operate as efficiently as possible. H.B. 3264 seeks to address this issue by establishing a pilot program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission that offers courses and training regarding workplace soft skills and office etiquette.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3264 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to establish and administer a pilot program in Cameron County under which the division of workforce development of the TWC offers a six-week training course on workplace soft skills, including workplace ethics and etiquette, effective communication, leadership, organizational skills, and time management and awards a certificate of completion for a participant's successful completion of the training course. The bill requires the TWC by rule to establish curriculum requirements for the pilot program and eligibility criteria for a person to participate in the pilot program.

H.B. 3264 requires the TWC, not later than December 1, 2022, to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program at enhancing the workplace soft skills and employment outcomes of participants and report the results of the evaluation to the legislature. The report must include a recommendation of the TWC on whether the pilot program should be continued on a statewide basis. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2023.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.