By Smith of Harris H.B. No. 1609 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation, organization, powers and duties of the 1-3 Texas Youth Corps, and its related advisory council. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Sec. 1.01. TEXAS YOUTH CORP. There is created 1-6 in the Texas Commission on Commerce and Labor, under the direction 1-7 of the Office of Volunteerism, a Texas Youth Corps. This article 1-8 may be cited as th "Texas Youth Corps Act of 1993". 1-9 Sec. 1.02. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Youth Corps is to: 1-10 (1) build on the existing organizational framework of 1-11 state and local programs and agencies to expand full-time and 1-12 part-time service opportunities for Texas youths; 1-13 (2) get young people to serve in programs that will 1-14 benefit the state and improve the life changes of the young through 1-15 the acquisition of literacy and job skills; 1-16 (3) enable Texas youths to make a sustained commitment 1-17 to service by removing barriers to service that have been created 1-18 by high education costs, loan indebtedness, and the cost of 1-19 housing; and 1-20 (4) involve participants in activities that would not 1-21 otherwise be performed by employed workers. 1-22 Sec. 1.03. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: 1-23 (1) "Board" means the Executive Director of the Office 2-1 of Volunteerism, the Executive Director of the Youth Corps, the 2-2 Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Commerce and Labor 2-3 and his designees. 2-4 (2) "Crew supervisor" means the adult staff individual 2-5 who is responsible for supervising a crew of participants, 2-6 including the crew leader. 2-7 (3) "Economically disadvantaged" with respect to 2-8 youths has the same meaning given such term in section 4(8) of the 2-9 Job Training Partnership Act (20 U.S.C. 1503(8)). 2-10 (4) "Indian lands" means any real property owned by an 2-11 Indian tribe, any real property held in trust by the United States 2-12 for Indian tribes, and any real property held by Indian tribes that 2-13 is subject to restrictions on alienation imposed by the United 2-14 States. 2-15 (5) "Indian tribe" means an Indian tribe, band, 2-16 nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska 2-17 Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or 2-18 established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 2-19 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) that is recognized as eligible for the special 2-20 programs and services provided by the United States to Indians 2-21 because of their status as Indians. 2-22 (6) "Out-of-school youth" means an individual who: 2-23 (A) has not attained the age of 27; 2-24 (B) has not completed college or the equivalent 2-25 thereof; and 3-1 (C) is not enrolled in an elementary or 3-2 secondary school or institution of higher education. 3-3 (7) "Participant" means an individual enrolled in a 3-4 program that receives assistance under this title. 3-5 (8) "Placement" means the matching of a participant 3-6 with a specific project. 3-7 (9) "Program" means an activity carried out with 3-8 assistance provided under this title. 3-9 (10) "Program agency" means: 3-10 (A) a state agency designated to manage a youth 3-11 corps program; 3-12 (B) the governing body of an Indian tribe that 3-13 administers a youth corps; 3-14 (C) any applicant administering a youth corps 3-15 program. 3-16 (11) "Project" means an activity that results in a 3-17 specific identifiable service or product that otherwise would not 3-18 be done with existing funds, and that does not duplicate the 3-19 routine services or functions of the employer to whom participants 3-20 are assigned. 3-21 (12) "Public lands" means any lands or waters (or 3-22 interest therein) owned or administered by the United States or by 3-23 a state agency or an instrumentality of the state or a local 3-24 government. 3-25 (13) "Sponsoring organization" means an organization, 4-1 eligible to receive assistance under this title, that has been 4-2 selected to provide a placement for a participant. 4-3 (14) "Youth corps program" means a program, such as a 4-4 conservation corps or youth service program, that offers full-time, 4-5 productive work (to be financed through stipends) with visible 4-6 community benefits in a natural resource or human service setting 4-7 and that gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and 4-8 life skills, education, training, and support services. 4-9 Sec. 1.04. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. (a) The initial staff of 4-10 the Youth Corps will include an Executive Director, a Program 4-11 Manager, and an administrative assistant. The Executive Director 4-12 and Program Manager must have experience in the field of youth 4-13 volunteer services or other related programs. The Executive 4-14 Director must also have managerial experience in the field of youth 4-15 volunteer services or other related programs. 4-16 (b) Subject to appropriation and the approval of the 4-17 Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Commerce and Labor, 4-18 the Director shall hire employees necessary to carry out the duties 4-19 of the office. 4-20 Sec. 1.05. The duties of the Youth Corps include, but are 4-21 not limited to the following: 4-22 (1) providing competitive grants for new programs and 4-23 existing programs within the state; 4-24 (2) generating additional service hours each year to 4-25 help meet human, educational, environmental, and public safety 5-1 needs, particularly those needs relating to poverty; 5-2 (3) providing training, technical assistance and grant 5-3 monitoring services to state and local entities receiving grants; 5-4 (4) providing training and technical assistance to 5-5 other youth corps not receiving state grants; 5-6 (5) establishing and specifying the membership and 5-7 role of an advisory committee that shall consist of representatives 5-8 of community-based agencies including community action agencies, 5-9 service recipients, youth-serving agencies, youth, parents, 5-10 teachers, administrators, agencies that serve older adults, school 5-11 board members, labor, and business. 5-12 Sec. 1.06. RULES AND REGULATIONS. (a) Before the end of 5-13 the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 5-14 Act, the Board shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement 5-15 the program established by this Act. 5-16 (b) Prior to the end of the 30-day period beginning on the 5-17 date of the enactment of this Act, the Board shall establish 5-18 procedures to provide program agencies and other interested parties 5-19 (including the general public) with adequate notice and an 5-20 opportunity to comment on and participate in the formulation of 5-21 regulations promulgated under subsection. 5-22 (c) The regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall 5-23 include provisions to assure uniform reporting on: 5-24 (1) the activities and accomplishments of Youth Corps 5-25 programs; 6-1 (2) the demographic characteristics of participants in 6-2 the Youth Corps; and 6-3 (3) such other information as may be necessary to 6-4 prepare the report required by Section 15.07 of this Act. 6-5 Sec. 1.07. REPORTING. The Board shall report to the 74th 6-6 legislature its progress in implementing the Texas Youth Corps Act 6-7 of 1993. 6-8 Sec. 1.08. GENERAL AUTHORITY. The Board may make grants to 6-9 applicants for the creation of expansion of full-time or summer 6-10 youth corps programs. 6-11 Sec. 1.09. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. (a) The Board shall award 6-12 grants under this Act on a competitive basis to entities that have 6-13 submitted applications in accordance with Section 15.10 of this 6-14 Act. 6-15 (b) The Board shall apply the criteria described in this Act 6-16 in determining whether to award a grant to an applicant under this 6-17 subsection. 6-18 (c) If more than one applicant applies for funds, the Board 6-19 shall allocate funds among such applicants as the Board considers 6-20 equitable. 6-21 (d) The following limitations on the use of grant money 6-22 shall be observed: 6-23 (1) Capital equipment purchases cannot exceed 10 6-24 percent of the amount of assistance made available to a program 6-25 agency under this Act. 7-1 (2) Administrative expenses cannot exceed 5 percent of 7-2 the amount of assistance made available to a program agency under 7-3 this Act. 7-4 Sec. 1.10. APPLICATION. (a) An applicant shall prepare and 7-5 submit to the Board, an application at such time, in such manner, 7-6 and containing such information as the Board may reasonably 7-7 require, including the information required under subsection (b). 7-8 (b) An application submitted under subsection (a) shall 7-9 describe; 7-10 (1) any youth corps program proposed to be conducted 7-11 directly by such applicant with assistance provided under this Act; 7-12 and 7-13 (2) any grant program proposed to be conducted by such 7-14 applicant with assistance provided under this Act for the benefit 7-15 of entities within the state. 7-16 (c) To receive a grant under this Act to directly conduct a 7-17 youth corps program, each applicant shall include in the 7-18 application submitted under subsection (a): 7-19 (1) a comprehensive description of the objectives and 7-20 performance goals for the program to be conducted, a plan for 7-21 managing and funding the program, and a description of the types of 7-22 projects to be carried out, including a description of the types 7-23 and duration of training and work experience to be provided by such 7-24 program; 7-25 (2) a plan for the certification of the training 8-1 skills acquired by participants and the awarding of academic credit 8-2 to participants for competencies developed through training 8-3 programs or work experience obtained under this Act; 8-4 (3) an age-appropriate learning component for 8-5 participants that include procedures that permit participants to 8-6 reflect on service experiences; 8-7 (4) an estimate of the number of participants and crew 8-8 leaders necessary for the proposed program, the length of time that 8-9 the services of such participants and crew leaders will be 8-10 required, the support services that will be required for such 8-11 participants and crew leaders, and a plan for recruiting such 8-12 participants, including educationally and economically 8-13 disadvantages youth, youth with limited basic skills or learning 8-14 disabilities, homeless youth, youth with disabilities, youth who 8-15 are in foster care who are becoming too old for foster care, and 8-16 youth of limited English proficiency; 8-17 (5) a description of the manner of appointment and 8-18 training of sufficient supervisory staff (including participants 8-19 who have displayed exceptional leadership qualities), who shall 8-20 provide for other central elements of a youth corps, such as crew 8-21 structure and a youth development component; 8-22 (6) a description of a plan to ensure the on-site 8-23 presence of knowledgeable and competent supervisory personnel at 8-24 program facilities; 8-25 (7) a description of the limited and emergency medical 9-1 care available at program facilities, transportation from 9-2 administrative facilities to work sites, accommodations for 9-3 individuals with disabilities, and other appropriate services, 9-4 supplies, and equipment that will be provided by such applicant; 9-5 (8) a description of the basic standards of work 9-6 requirements, health, nutrition, sanitation, and safety, and the 9-7 manner that such standards shall be enforced; 9-8 (9) a description of the plan to assign participants 9-9 to facilities as near to the homes of such participants as is 9-10 reasonable and practicable; 9-11 (10) an assurance that, prior to the placement of a 9-12 participant under this Act, the program agency will consult with 9-13 any local labor organization representing employees in the area who 9-14 are engaged in the same or similar work as that proposed to be 9-15 carried out by such program; 9-16 (11) a description of formal social counseling 9-17 arrangements to be made available to the participants; 9-18 (12) a plan for ensuring that individuals do not drop 9-19 out of school for the purpose of participating in a youth corps 9-20 program; and 9-21 (13) such other information as the Board shall 9-22 require. 9-23 (d) The Board shall establish and implement rules describing 9-24 the manner in which: 9-25 (1) local applicants will be evaluated; 10-1 (2) service programs within the state will be 10-2 coordinated; 10-3 (3) economically and educationally disadvantaged 10-4 youth, including youth with disabilities, youth with limited basic 10-5 skills or learning disabilities, youth with limited English 10-6 proficiency, homeless youth, and youth in foster care who are 10-7 becoming too old for foster care, will be recruited; 10-8 (4) programs that receive assistance under this Act 10-9 will be evaluated; 10-10 (5) the Board will encourage cooperation among 10-11 programs that receive assistance under this Act; 10-12 (6) the Board will certify the training skills 10-13 acquired by each participant and the credit provided to each 10-14 participant for competencies developed through training programs or 10-15 work experience obtained under programs that receive assistance 10-16 under this Act; and 10-17 (7) prior to the placement of a participant under this 10-18 Act, the Board will ensure that program agencies consult with each 10-19 local labor organization representing employees in the area who are 10-20 engaged in the same or similar work as the work that is proposed to 10-21 be carried out by such program. 10-22 Sec. 1.11. FOCUS OF PROGRAMS. (a) Programs that receive 10-23 assistance under this Act may carry out activities that: 10-24 (1) in the case of conservation corps programs, focus 10-25 on: 11-1 (A) conservation, rehabilitation, and the 11-2 improvement of wildlife habitat, rangelands, parks, and 11-3 recreational areas; 11-4 (B) urban and rural revitalization, historical 11-5 and cultural site preservation, and reforestation of both urban and 11-6 rural areas; 11-7 (C) fish culture, wildlife habitat maintenance 11-8 and improvement, and other fishery assistance; 11-9 (D) road and trail maintenance and improvement; 11-10 (E) erosion, flood, drought, and storm damage 11-11 assistance and controls; 11-12 (F) stream, lake, waterfront harbor, and port 11-13 improvement; 11-14 (G) wetlands protection and pollution control; 11-15 (H) insect, disease, rodent, and fire prevention 11-16 and control; 11-17 (I) the improvement of abandoned railroad beds 11-18 and rights-of-way; 11-19 (J) energy conservation projects, renewable 11-20 resource enhancement, and recovery of biomass; 11-21 (K) reclamation and improvement of strip-mined 11-22 land; 11-23 (L) forestry, nursery, and cultural operations; 11-24 and 11-25 (M) making public facilities accessible to 12-1 individuals with disabilities. 12-2 (2) in the case of human services corps programs, 12-3 include participant service in: 12-4 (A) state, local, and regional governmental 12-5 agencies; 12-6 (B) nursing homes, hospices, senior centers, 12-7 hospitals, local libraries, parks, recreational facilities, child 12-8 and adult day care centers, programs serving individuals with 12-9 disabilities, and schools; 12-10 (C) law enforcement agencies, and penal and 12-11 probation systems; 12-12 (D) private nonprofit organizations that 12-13 primarily focus on social service such as community action 12-14 agencies; 12-15 (E) activities that focus on the rehabilitation 12-16 or improvement of public facilities, neighborhood improvements, 12-17 literacy training that benefits educationally disadvantaged 12-18 individuals, weatherization of and basic repairs to low-income 12-19 housing including housing occupied by older adults, energy 12-20 conservation (including solar energy techniques), removal of 12-21 architectural barriers to access by individuals with disabilities 12-22 to public facilities, activities that focus on drug and alcohol 12-23 abuse education, prevention and treatment, and conservation, 12-24 maintenance, or restoration of natural resources on publicly held 12-25 lands; and 13-1 (F) any other nonpartisan civic activities and 13-2 services that the Board determines to be of a substantial social 13-3 benefit in meeting unmet human, educational, or environmental needs 13-4 (particularly needs related to poverty) or in the community where 13-5 volunteer service is to be performed; or 13-6 (3) encompass the focuses and services described in 13-7 both paragraphs (1) and (2). 13-8 (b) To be eligible to receive assistance under this Act, the 13-9 activities conducted through programs referred to in subsection (a) 13-10 shall not be conducted by any: 13-11 (1) business organized for profit; 13-12 (2) labor union; 13-13 (3) partisan political organization; 13-14 (4) organization engaged in religious activities, 13-15 unless such activities do not involve the use of funds provided 13-16 under this title by program participants and program staff to give 13-17 religious instruction, conduct worship services, or engage in any 13-18 form of proselytization; or 13-19 (5) domestic or personal service company or 13-20 organization. 13-21 (c) No participant shall perform services in any project for 13-22 more than a 6-month period. No participant shall remain enrolled 13-23 in projects assisted under this Act for more than 24 months. 13-24 Sec. 1.12. RELATED PROGRAMS. An activity that is operated 13-25 for the same purpose as a program eligible to be carried out under 14-1 this Act, is encouraged to use services available under this Act. 14-2 Sec. 1.13. PUBLIC LANDS OR INDIAN LANDS. (a) To be 14-3 eligible to receive assistance through a grant provided under this 14-4 Act, a program shall carry out activities on public lands or Indian 14-5 lands, or result in a public benefit. 14-6 (b) A program carried out with assistance provided under 14-7 this Act for conservation, rehabilitation, or improvement of any 14-8 public lands or Indian lands shall be consistent with: 14-9 (1) the provisions of law and policies relating to the 14-10 management and administration of such lands, and all other 14-11 applicable provisions of law; and 14-12 (2) all management, operational, and other plans and 14-13 documents that govern the administration of such lands. 14-14 (c) Any land or water conservation program (or any related 14-15 program) administered by the state is encouraged to use services 14-16 available under this Act to carry out its program. 14-17 Sec. 1.14. TRAINING AND EDUCATION SERVICES. (a) Each 14-18 program agency shall assess the educational level of participants 14-19 at the time of their entrance into the program, using any available 14-20 records or simplified assessment means or methodology and shall, 14-21 where appropriate, refer such participants for testing for specific 14-22 learning disabilities. 14-23 (b) Each program agency shall, through the programs and 14-24 activities administered under this Act, enhance the educational 14-25 skills of participants. 15-1 (c) Program provision of pre-service and in-service training 15-2 and education guidelines: 15-3 (1) Each program agency shall use not less than 10 15-4 percent of the assistance made available to such agency under this 15-5 Act in each fiscal year to provide pre-service and in-service 15-6 training and educational materials and services for participants in 15-7 such a program. Program participants shall be provided with 15-8 information concerning the benefits the community that result from 15-9 the activities undertaken by such participants. 15-10 (2) A program agency may enter into arrangements with 15-11 academic institutions or education providers, including: 15-12 (A) local education agencies; 15-13 (B) community colleges; 15-14 (C) 4-year colleges; 15-15 (D) area vocational-technical schools; and 15-16 (E) community based organizations; 15-17 to evaluate the basic skills of participants and to make academic 15-18 study available to participants to enable such participants to 15-19 upgrade literacy skills, to obtain high school diplomas or the 15-20 equivalent of such diplomas, to obtain college degrees, or to 15-21 enhance employable skills. 15-22 (3) Career and educational guidance and counseling 15-23 shall be provided to a participant during a period of in-service 15-24 training as described in this subsection. Each graduating 15-25 participant shall be provided with counseling with respect to 16-1 additional study, job skills training or employment and shall be 16-2 provided job placement assistance where appropriate. 16-3 (4) A program agency shall give priority to 16-4 participants who have not obtained a high school diploma or the 16-5 equivalent of such diploma in providing services under this 16-6 subsection. 16-7 (d) Standards and procedures required by programs: 16-8 (1) Appropriate state and local officials shall 16-9 certify that standards and procedures with respect to the awarding 16-10 of academic credit and the certification of educational attainment 16-11 in programs conducted under subsection (c) are consistent with the 16-12 requirements of state and local law and regulations. 16-13 (2) The standards and procedures described in 16-14 paragraph (1) shall provide that an individual serving in a 16-15 program that receives assistance under this Act: 16-16 (A) who is not a high school graduate, 16-17 participate in an educational curriculum so that such individual 16-18 can earn a high school diploma or the equivalent of such diploma; 16-19 and 16-20 (B) may arrange to receive academic credit in 16-21 recognition of the education and skills obtained from service 16-22 satisfactorily completed. 16-23 Sec. 1.15. AMOUNT OF AWARD; MATCHING REQUIREMENT. (a) In 16-24 determining the amount of a grant to be awarded to an applicant 16-25 under this Act, the Board shall consider: 17-1 (1) the number of participants to be served; 17-2 (2) the youth unemployment rate in the community; and 17-3 (3) the type of project or service proposed to be 17-4 carried out with the assistance provided under this Act. 17-5 (b) In order to receive a grant: 17-6 (1) The state's share of the cost of activities for 17-7 which a grant is made to an applicant under this Act shall not 17-8 exceed 75 percent of the total cost of such activities. 17-9 (2) In addition to the matching requirement in 17-10 paragraph (1), the applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction 17-11 of the Board that the effectiveness of the project will be enhanced 17-12 by the use of state funds. 17-13 Sec. 1.16. PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. (a) In the 17-14 consideration of applications submitted the Board shall give 17-15 preference to programs that: 17-16 (1) will provide long-term benefits to the public; 17-17 (2) will instill a work ethic and a sense of public 17-18 service in the participants; 17-19 (3) will be labor intensive, and involve youth 17-20 operating in crews; 17-21 (4) can be planned and initiated promptly; and 17-22 (5) will enhance skills development and educational 17-23 level and opportunities for the participants. 17-24 (b) In the consideration of applications under this Act the 17-25 Board shall ensure the equitable treatment of both urban and rural 18-1 areas. 18-2 Sec. 1.17. AGE AND CITIZENSHIP CRITERIA FOR ENROLLMENT. (a) 18-3 Enrollment in programs that receive assistance under this Act shall 18-4 be limited to individuals who, at the time of enrollment, are: 18-5 (1) not less than 16 years nor more than 25 years of 18-6 age, except that summer programs may include individuals not less 18-7 than 15 years nor more than 21 years of age at the time of the 18-8 enrollment of such individuals; and 18-9 (2) Texas citizens or lawful permanent resident aliens 18-10 of the United States residing in Texas. 18-11 (b) Programs that receive assistance under this Act shall 18-12 ensure that educationally and economically disadvantaged youth, 18-13 including youth in foster care who are becoming too old for foster 18-14 care, youth with disabilities, youth with limited English 18-15 proficiency, youth with limited basic skills or learning 18-16 disabilities and homeless youth, are offered opportunities to 18-17 enroll. 18-18 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), program agencies may 18-19 enroll a limited number of special corps members over age 25 so 18-20 that the corps may draw on their special skills to fulfill the 18-21 purposes of this Act. Programs are encouraged to consider senior 18-22 citizens as special corps members. 18-23 (d) Program agencies shall use not more than 2 percent of 18-24 amounts received under this Act to conduct joint projects with 18-25 senior citizens organizations to enable senior citizens to serve as 19-1 mentors for youth participants. 19-2 (e) Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to prohibit 19-3 any program agency from limiting enrollment to any age subgroup 19-4 within the range specified in subsection (a)(1). 19-5 Sec. 1.18 USE OF VOLUNTEERS. Program agencies may use 19-6 volunteer services for purposes of assisting projects carried out 19-7 under this Act and may expend funds made available for those 19-8 purposes to the agency, including funds made available under this 19-9 Act, to provide for services or costs incidental to the utilization 19-10 of such volunteers, including transportation, supplies, recruiting, 19-11 training, and supervision. The use of volunteer services under 19-12 this section shall be subject to the condition that such use does 19-13 not result in the displacement of any participant. 19-14 Sec. 1.19. POST-SERVICE BENEFITS. The program agency may 19-15 provide post-service education and training benefits (such as 19-16 scholarships and grants) for each participant in an amount that is 19-17 not in excess of $100 per week, or in excess of $5,000 per year, 19-18 whichever is less. 19-19 Sec. 1.20. LIVING ALLOWANCE. (a) Guideline regarding 19-20 full-time service: 19-21 (1) From assistance provided under this Act, each 19-22 participant in a full-time youth corps program that receives 19-23 assistance under this Act shall receive a living allowance of not 19-24 more than an amount equal to 100 percent of the poverty line for a 19-25 family of two (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community 20-1 Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.9902(2))). 20-2 (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a program agency 20-3 may provide participants with additional amounts that are made 20-4 available from non-state sources. 20-5 (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a 20-6 program in existence on the date of enactment of this Act to 20-7 decrease any stipends, salaries, or living allowances provided to 20-8 participants under such program so long as the amount of any such 20-9 stipends, salaries, or living allowances that is in excess of the 20-10 levels provided for in this section are paid from non-state 20-11 sources. 20-12 (c) In addition to the living allowance provided under 20-13 subsection (a), program agencies are encouraged to provide health 20-14 insurance to each participant in a full-time youth corps program 20-15 who does not otherwise have access to health insurance. 20-16 (d) Facilities, services, and supplies: 20-17 (1) The program agency may deduct, from amounts 20-18 provided under subsections (a) and (c) to a participant, a 20-19 reasonable portion of the costs of the rates for any room and board 20-20 that is provided for such participant at a residential facility. 20-21 Such deducted funds shall be deposited into rollover accounts that 20-22 shall be used solely to defray the costs of room and board for 20-23 participants. 20-24 (2) The program agency shall establish the amount of 20-25 the deductions and rates under paragraph (1) after evaluating the 21-1 costs of providing such room and board to the participant. 21-2 (3) A program agency may provide facilities, quarters, 21-3 and board and shall provide limited and emergency medical care, 21-4 transportation from administrative facilities to work sites, 21-5 accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and other 21-6 appropriate services, supplies, and equipment to each participant. 21-7 (4) The Board may provide services, facilities, 21-8 supplies, and equipment, including any surplus food and equipment 21-9 available from other state programs, to any program agency carrying 21-10 out projects under this Act. 21-11 (5) The Board and program agencies shall establish 21-12 standards and enforcement procedures concerning the health and 21-13 safety of participants for all projects consistent with applicable 21-14 federal, state, and local health and safety standards. 21-15 Sec. 1.21. JOINT PROGRAMS. (a) The Board may develop, in 21-16 cooperation with the heads of other state agencies, regulations 21-17 designed to permit, where appropriate, joint programs in which 21-18 activities supported with assistance made available under this Act 21-19 are coordinated with activities supported with assistance made 21-20 available under programs administered by the heads of such 21-21 agencies. 21-22 (b) Regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall 21-23 establish standards for the approval of joint programs that meet 21-24 both the purposes of this Act and the purposes of such statutes 21-25 under which assistance is made available to support such projects. 22-1 (c) Program agencies may enter into contracts and other 22-2 appropriate arrangements with government agencies and non profit 22-3 organizations for the operation or management of any projects or 22-4 facilities under the program. 22-5 (d) The Board and program agencies carrying out programs 22-6 under this Act shall coordinate the programs with related federal, 22-7 state, local, and private activities. 22-8 Sec. 1.22. EMPLOYEE STATUS. A participant or crew leader in 22-9 a program that receives assistance under this Act shall not be 22-10 considered a state employee and shall not be subject to the 22-11 provisions of law relating to state employment. 22-12 SECTION 2. Art.5221b-7c., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, is 22-13 amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 22-14 (e) In addition to other authorized purposes, the Advance 22-15 Interest Trust Fund may be used for payment of expenses of the 22-16 Texas Youth Corps. Such amounts may be transferred to the agency 22-17 responsible for the operation and management of the Texas Youth 22-18 Corps. 22-19 SECTION 3. There is hereby appropriated for the operation of 22-20 the Texas Youth Corps $9,000,000 from the Advance Interest Trust 22-21 Fund for each year of the biennium beginning September 1, 1993. 22-22 SECTION 4. The creation of the Texas Youth Corps within the 22-23 Texas Commission on Commerce and Labor is contingent on the 22-24 adoption of legislation consolidating the Texas Department of 22-25 Commerce and the Texas Employment Commission into a new entity to 23-1 be known as the Texas Commission on Commerce and Labor, or a 23-2 similar entity. If such legislation is not adopted, the Texas 23-3 Youth Corps is created within the Texas Employment Commission, and 23-4 references in this act to "the commission" or "the Texas Commission 23-5 on Commerce and Labor" shall be deemed to be references to the 23-6 Texas Employment Commission. 23-7 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on September 1, 1993. 23-8 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the 23-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 23-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 23-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 23-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.