Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
By Coleman H.B. No. 2928
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the provision of job training for AFDC recipients.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 ARTICLE 1. SELF SUFFICIENCY FUND
1-5 SECTION 1.01. Chapter 303, Labor Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Section 303.005 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 303.005. SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND. (a) To achieve the
1-8 purposes of this chapter, a self-sufficiency fund is created to
1-9 develop training for recipients of public assistance.
1-10 (b) The self-sufficiency fund may be used by public
1-11 community and technical colleges and community based organizations
1-12 as start-up funds for the following job-training purposes:
1-13 (1) developing customized training programs for
1-14 businesses and trade unions; and
1-15 (2) sponsoring small and medium-sized business
1-16 networks and consortiums.
1-17 (c) Money from the skills development fund may not be used
1-18 to pay the training costs and other related costs of an employer
1-19 who relocates the employer's worksite from one location in this
1-20 state to another in-state location.
1-21 (d) The executive director, or a person appointed by the
1-22 executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of
1-23 grants, is responsible for the distribution of money from the
1-24 skills development fund.
2-1 (e) The executive director shall develop criteria to ensure
2-2 that employers and training resources work together to propose
2-3 training and employment for a specific number of clients.
2-4 (f) The funds may also be used for support services
2-5 necessary for recipients to participate in training activities.
2-6 (g) It is the intent of the legislature that, to the
2-7 greatest extent practicable, money from the self-sufficiency fund
2-8 shall be spent in all areas of this state.
2-9 ARTICLE 2. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RECIPIENTS OF FINANCIAL
2-10 ASSISTANCE
2-11 SECTION 2.01. Section 31.010, Human Resources Code, is
2-12 amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to
2-13 read as follows:
2-14 (c) Support services include:
2-15 (1) education, using public or private schools as
2-16 necessary;
2-17 (2) child care;
2-18 (3) transportation assistance;
2-19 (4) work skills and job readiness training;
2-20 (5) instruction in job search techniques; [and]
2-21 (6) job placement; and
2-22 (7) job retention assistance.
2-23 (f) In providing work skills and job readiness training, the
2-24 department shall:
2-25 (1) emphasize training for sustainable-wage jobs;
2-26 (2) promote understanding of nontraditional work
2-27 opportunities for recipients; and
2-28 (3) offer micro enterprise development and
2-29 self-employment assistance in rural areas and other areas where
2-30 jobs are scarce.
3-1 ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; EMERGENCY
3-2 SECTION 3.01. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-3 SECTION 3.02. The importance of this legislation and the
3-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.