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.