JKM S.B. 1490 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
S.B. 1490
By: Ellis (Coleman)
4-29-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, Texas welfare reform (H.B. 1863, 74th Legislature) passed in
1995 requires the administration of the state's child care services to be
transferred from the Texas Department of Human Resources to the Texas
Workforce Commission (TWC). Beginning September 1, 1997, local workforce
development boards created by H.B. 1863 will begin assuming responsibility
for the management of child care services in their areas. TWC is required
to provide training to members of local development workforce boards
regarding the importance of a high-quality workforce and encouraging
members to be advocates for effective and efficient workforce development
programs. TWC is not required to provide training to members of local
workforce development boards regarding the management of child care
services. This bill would require TWC to provide training to members of
local workforce development boards regarding the management of child care
services and encouraging members to be advocates for the improvement of
child care quality. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1490 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to provide
training to members of local workforce development boards regarding the
management of child care services and encouraging members to be advocates
for the improvement of child care quality. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority in SECTION 3 by adding Sec. 44.061(j) to
the Human Resources Code, directing the Texas Workforce Commission to
adopt rules to implement the section. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.Amends Section 302.043(a), Labor Code, to require the division
of workforce development of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to
provide management and board development training for all members of local
workforce development boards that includes information regarding client
eligibility determination, early childhood education, vendor management,
the importance of high qualify workforces, and the complexity of managing
multiple state and federal child care funding sources, and that encourages
board members to be advocates in their communities for effective and
efficient workforce development programs and for the improvement of child
care quality. Deletes a clause in reference to the economic prosperity of
communities. 

SECTION 2.Amends Sec. 302.043, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (c) to
provide that  workforce development division of TWC ensure that local
workforce development boards receive training under Subsection (a) before
the board begins to manage the delivery of child care-services. 

SECTION 3.Amends Sec. 44.061, Human Resources Code, to transfer
appointment of  members to the State Advisory Committee on Child-Care
Programs from the Board of Human Services to the TWC on the recommendation
of the TWC executive director.  Adds a provision stating that a member of
the committee is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to
reimbursement of travel expenses incurred while conducting the business of
the board, as provided by the General Appropriations Act.  Grants
rulemaking authority to the Texas Workforce Commission to implement this
section. 

SECTION 4.Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5.Emergency clause.