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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to develop a plan for the |
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consolidation of the functions of workforce development programs |
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administered by the Texas Workforce Commission and social services |
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programs administered by the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to provide for the |
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creation of a task force to develop a plan for the consolidation of |
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workforce development programs administered by the Texas Workforce |
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Commission and social services programs administered by the Health |
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and Human Services Commission. Though federal law and guidance |
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currently restricts the consolidation of these federally funded |
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services, the United States Congress is considering legislation to |
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reverse the federal restrictions and allow states to consolidate |
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these functions. This Act would provide an opportunity for Texas to |
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implement a consolidation plan, if and when federal law allows. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 319 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 319. TASK FORCE ON CONSOLIDATION OF WORKFORCE AND SOCIAL |
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SERVICES |
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Sec. 319.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "task force" |
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means the task force established under this chapter to develop a |
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plan for the consolidation of workforce development and social |
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services programs in this state. |
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Sec. 319.002. TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP; COMPENSATION. (a) |
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The task force consists of: |
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(1) three members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor; and |
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(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives. |
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(b) A vacancy on the task force must be filled in the same |
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manner as the original appointment. |
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(c) Members of the task force serve without compensation or |
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reimbursement for expenses. |
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Sec. 319.003. TASK FORCE DUTIES. (a) The task force shall: |
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(1) develop a plan for best courses of action and a |
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regulatory framework for the consolidation of workforce |
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development programs administered by the commission and social |
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services programs administered by the Health and Human Services |
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Commission; and |
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(2) make recommendations to the legislature regarding |
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the consolidation of programs described by Subdivision (1). |
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(b) The consolidation plan developed by the task force must: |
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(1) examine all state resources, including financial, |
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manpower, and technology resources, to determine if those resources |
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are being used effectively and efficiently to achieve the desired |
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outcomes for recipients of the workforce development and social |
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services programs and for the purposes of the programs' intended |
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goals; |
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(2) identify opportunities for cost savings or |
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reallocations of resources to improve the effectiveness of the |
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programs by streamlining essential functions and eliminating |
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duplicative efforts; |
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(3) be designed to improve the delivery of the |
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programs by ensuring that applicants for and recipients of the |
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services provided are better served by having access to a single |
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point of contact case manager for all services sought or received; |
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and |
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(4) identify the changes to federal law that would be |
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necessary to implement the consolidation plan. |
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Sec. 319.004. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission and |
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the Health and Human Services Commission shall provide staff and |
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administrative support as necessary to enable the task force to |
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carry out its duties under this chapter, including by providing: |
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(1) meeting space; |
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(2) staff to assist the task force in conducting |
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research and drafting the consolidation plan and related materials; |
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and |
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(3) funding available from existing resources |
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appropriated to the commission or the Health and Human Services |
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Commission to pay for costs associated with the task force's |
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functions. |
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Sec. 319.005. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than |
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December 31, 2024, the task force shall prepare and submit to the |
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legislature a report that includes: |
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(1) a description of the activities of the task force; |
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(2) the consolidation plan developed by the task |
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force; and |
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(3) the findings and recommendations of the task |
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force. |
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Sec. 319.006. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and |
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this chapter expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2024, the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall appoint the members of the task force as |
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required by Section 319.002, Labor Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |