SRC-TNM S.B. 1688 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1688
By: Ellis
State Affairs
4-22-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Currently, the federal Personal Responsibility and Reconciliation Act of
1996 requires states to provide 20 hours of work activities for 25 percent
of their public assistance recipients in fiscal year 1997.  Work
participation requirements will increase five percent each year until
2002.  Within five years, states must have 50 percent of welfare
recipients working at least 30 hours a week.  Other states have been
successful in moving welfare recipients to work by creating a number of
incentives for businesses to provide job training or employment for
recipients of public assistance.  S.B. 1688 would require the Texas
Workforce Commission and other state agencies to give preference on
contracts awarded through a competitive procurement procedure to a bidder
that has received a voucher for the employment of recipients of public
assistance under Section 31.072, Human Resources Code. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1688 outlines provisions regarding a preference given to
bidders who hire recipients of financial assistance and services. 

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 Chapter 2155H, Government Code, by adding Section
2155.449, as follows: 

Sec. 2155.449. PREFERENCE FOR BIDDERS WHO HIRE RECIPIENTS OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE. Sets forth instances in which the Texas Workforce Commission
(commission) and state agencies are required to give preference to a
bidder who has received a tax refund voucher under Section 31.072, Human
Resources Code.  Requires the commission and state agencies to give
preference to a  bidder who agrees to take certain actions.  Requires
Subsections (a) and (b) to apply only to a contract awarded through a
competitive procurement procedure.  Prohibits a bidder from retaliating
against an employee who  fails or refuses to reveal whether the employee
receives financial assistance and services under Chapter 31, Human
Resources Code. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1.

Page 1, line 19, amends Section 2155.229(a), Government Code, to delete
"six" and insert "four.