By Maxey H.B. No. 1925 74R4914 MJW-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to establishment of the agency human resource center 1-3 within the office of the governor. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Chapter 666 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 666. AGENCY HUMAN RESOURCE CENTER 1-8 Sec. 666.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-9 (1) "Center" means the agency human resource center. 1-10 (2) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 1-11 656.021. 1-12 Sec. 666.002. CENTER ESTABLISHED. The agency human resource 1-13 center is a division of the office of the governor. 1-14 Sec. 666.003. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall: 1-15 (1) assist state agencies by providing information and 1-16 access to experts, and by developing model uniform policies and 1-17 procedures, in matters relating to employee issues, including: 1-18 (A) reductions in workforce; 1-19 (B) unpaid leave, voluntary leave, and sick 1-20 leave pools; and 1-21 (C) development of employee programs, including 1-22 work alternatives and employee assistance; 1-23 (2) refer state agency questions relating to personnel 1-24 matters, including the interpretation of relevant statutes, to an 2-1 appropriate state entity, including: 2-2 (A) the comptroller's office, for payroll 2-3 issues; and 2-4 (B) the Employees Retirement System of Texas or 2-5 Teacher Retirement System of Texas, as appropriate, for retirement 2-6 issues; and 2-7 (3) expand training opportunities for state employees, 2-8 coordinate agency training efforts, and facilitate, if appropriate, 2-9 training partnerships between state agencies, educational 2-10 facilities, and private businesses. 2-11 Sec. 666.004. INVESTIGATION OF COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING FOR 2-12 STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES. (a) The center shall investigate the 2-13 fiscal implications of implementing computer-based training for 2-14 state agency employees by: 2-15 (1) requesting information, bids, or proposals to 2-16 provide computer-based training and consulting with the Council on 2-17 Competitive Government in analyzing and evaluating the information, 2-18 bids, or proposals; and 2-19 (2) conducting a survey of all state agencies to 2-20 determine existing computer hardware and computer hardware needed 2-21 for implementation of computer-based employee training. 2-22 (b) A state agency shall assist the center in the 2-23 investigation required by this section by: 2-24 (1) providing the center a copy of any bid for 2-25 implementation of employee computer-based training that the agency 2-26 receives; and 2-27 (2) participating in the survey conducted by the 3-1 center. 3-2 Sec. 666.005. PHASE-IN OF CENTER'S EMPLOYEE TRAINING DUTIES. 3-3 (a) In performing duties relating to state employee training under 3-4 Section 666.003, the center shall: 3-5 (1) survey all state agencies regarding employee 3-6 training needs during fiscal year 1996; 3-7 (2) coordinate state agency employee training efforts 3-8 during fiscal year 1997; and 3-9 (3) facilitate state agency training partnerships and 3-10 exchanges with educational facilities and private businesses during 3-11 fiscal year 1998. 3-12 (b) This section expires August 31, 1998. 3-13 Sec. 666.006. EVALUATION OF CENTER. (a) Not later than 3-14 September 1, 1997, representatives of the state auditor's office, 3-15 comptroller's office, legislative budget office, Texas Employment 3-16 Commission, and Commission on Human Rights shall prepare and submit 3-17 a report that evaluates the performance of the center. In 3-18 preparing the report, agency representatives shall consult with 3-19 state agency personnel offices and any professional associations 3-20 that have knowledge of the center's performance. Evaluation of the 3-21 center's performance shall include consideration of the number of 3-22 state agencies assisted and the percentage of those agencies that 3-23 report satisfaction with the center's performance. 3-24 (b) The report required by Subsection (a) shall be filed 3-25 with the: 3-26 (1) governor; 3-27 (2) lieutenant governor; and 4-1 (3) speaker of the house of representatives. 4-2 (c) This section expires September 2, 1997. 4-3 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 4-4 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 4-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.