By: Ordaz Perez H.B. No. 4067
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the designation, authority, and funding of the small
  business ombudsman program of the Texas Workforce Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sec. 301.009, Labor Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The commission shall have:
               (1)  a division of workforce development;
               (2)  a division of unemployment compensation; and
               (3)  a civil rights division.; and
               (4)  a small business ombudsman program.
         (b)  In addition to the divisions and program listed in
  Subsection (a), the executive director may establish additional
  divisions within the commission for effective administration and
  performance of commission functions.
         (c)  The executive director shall appoint the directors of
  the divisions of the commission. The directors serve at the
  pleasure of the executive director.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 301, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter L to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER L. SMALL BUSINESS OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM
         Sec. 301.2001.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Director" means the director of the program.
               (2)  "Program" means the small business ombudsman
  program of the commission.
         Sec. 301.2005.  GOVERNANCE; AUTHORITY. (a) The commission
  shall establish policies for the program and the executive director
  shall supervise the director in administering the activities of the
  program.
         (b)  The commission is authorized, with respect to assisting
  small businesses during a period of economic disaster or downturn,
  to provide to small businesses with resources for legal,
  accounting, and other needed services. Any assistance to small
  businesses provided under this subchapter shall be strictly
  confidential with respect to any resources or services provided by
  the commission to a small business, and with respect to all
  identity, contact, correspondence, or other information shared
  between a small business and the commission for purposes of this
  subchapter.
         (c)  Small business assistance described in Subsection (b)
  includes assistance with, but is not limited to:
               (1)  securing state or federal funds of any kind;
               (2)  business taxes and accounting;
               (3)  refinancing;
               (4)  bankruptcy procedure;
               (5)  restructuring;
               (6)  debt protection and forgiveness;
               (7)  technical and financial opportunities;
               (8)  state agency and regulatory applicability; and
               (9)  other assistance to small businesses.
         (d)  To achieve the purpose of Subsection (b) and (c), the
  commission shall, contingent on program funding, provide resources
  to staff the program with a minimum of two qualified individuals;
  such staffing shall not include more than one attorney and one
  certified public accountant.
         (e)  A qualified individual described in Subsection (d) is a
  person who is licensed in the State of Texas to provide legal or
  accounting services as described in Subsection (b) and (c).
         Sec. 301.2010.  SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC OMBUDSMAN FUND. (a)
  To achieve the purposes of this subchapter, the small business
  ombudsman fund is created. The fund is composed of:
               (1)  any amounts appropriated by the legislature for
  the purpose of this subchapter; or
               (2)  any amounts allocated by the legislature for the
  purpose of this subchapter from any other resources.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.