BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1602
88R7587 KSD-F	By: Guillen (Zaffirini)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/1/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

State-funded entities providing adult education and literacy programs have not been held accountable for achieving goals set by the state. This lack of benchmarks has raised concerns about the effectiveness of these programs. Accordingly, H.B. 1602 would increase adult education and literacy rates by requiring the Texas Workforce Commission to establish performance criteria for these entities and prioritize awarding funds to those that meet the criteria. This would ensure that state-funded adult education and literacy programs are meeting their goals and providing effective services to those in need.

H.B. 1602 amends current law relating to performance criteria for the award of adult education and literacy funds.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 315.002, Labor Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 315.002, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:

(b-1) Requires the Texas Workforce Commission, to the extent permitted under federal law, by rule to establish:

(1) annual performance requirements that each entity that receives money appropriated under Chapter 315 (Adult Education and Literacy Programs) is required to satisfy to qualify for a continuing award of funds under this chapter, which are required to include the achievement of enrollment targets and performance benchmarks that are comparable to those provided by Section 315.007(c) (relating to requiring that the criteria for the award of funds to entities based on performance during a program year include the achievement by an entity of certain enrollment target and performance benchmarks); and

(2) a process for giving priority in awarding funds under this chapter to entities that consistently satisfy the annual performance requirements established under Subdivision (1).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.