SRC-TNM H.B. 425 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 425
By: Raymond (Ellis)
State Affairs
4-28-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, working couples, single parents, and those caring for elderly
family members must balance work and family responsibilities.  With
increasing child-care and nursing home care costs these individuals are
finding it more difficult to juggle work and family responsibilities.
Because state government is Texas' largest employer, it can be
instrumental in the development of policies that address family problems
which contribute to decreased productivity, lost work time, increased
health risks, tardiness, absenteeism, and poor morale.  H.B. 425 would add
a representative of the Child Care Development Board and two
representatives of state agencies to the Work and Family Policies Advisory
Committee to assist state agencies in developing policies to help
employees meet work and family responsibilities. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 425 outlines provisions regarding the policies of state
agencies regarding work and family issues. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.002(b), Labor Code, to require the executive
director, rather than the administrator, of the Texas Workforce Commission
to appoint the members of the Work and Family Policies Advisory Committee
(committee).  Requires one member of the committee to be a representative
of the Child Care Development Board. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 81, Labor Code, by adding Section 81.009, as
follows: 

Sec. 81.009. WORK-FAMILY FACILITATOR. Authorizes the clearinghouse to
assign an employee to serve as a work-family facilitator who shall be
responsible for assisting state employees in developing work policies that
assist agency employees in meeting their responsibilities to their work
and to their families. 

SECTION 3. (a) Effective date: September 1, 1997.

(b) Provides that no state agency may adopt rules or policies or take any
other action which violates the fundamental right and duty of a parent to
direct the upbringing of the parent's child. 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.