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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for job-training programs provided under |
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the self-sufficiency fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 309.002(a), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Subject to the availability of funds, the |
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self-sufficiency fund is created as an account in the general |
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revenue fund for use by public community and technical colleges, |
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community-based organizations, and state extension agencies to |
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develop [for certain recipients of financial assistance under |
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Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, customized] job-training |
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programs in which individuals who are identified by the commission |
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as being low-income or at risk of becoming dependent on public |
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assistance benefits are [the recipients will be] provided job |
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training by: |
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(1) an entity that develops a job-training program |
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under this section; |
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(2) a small or medium-sized business or trade union; |
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or |
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(3) an informal partnership between an entity that |
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develops a job-training program under this section and a small or |
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medium-sized business network or consortium. |
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SECTION 2. Section 309.003(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) An entity that receives money from the fund for a |
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job-training program shall work in conjunction with employers to |
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place participants who successfully complete [graduates of] the |
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program in positions of employment in which the participants |
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[graduates] will earn [be earning] wages sufficient to enable the |
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participants [graduates] to become independent of or avoid becoming |
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dependent on benefits under the financial assistance program |
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established under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, and if |
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applicable, benefits [assistance] provided under the supplemental |
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nutrition assistance [food stamp] program established |
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[administered by the Texas Department of Human Services] under |
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Chapter 33, Human Resources Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 309.004, Labor Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 309.004. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission shall |
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adopt rules to implement this chapter, including rules to: |
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(1) identify individuals who are low-income or at risk |
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of becoming dependent on public assistance benefits; and |
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(2) determine which individuals identified under |
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Subdivision (1) [recipients of financial assistance under Chapter |
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31, Human Resources Code,] are eligible to participate in |
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job-training programs developed with money from the fund. |
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SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |