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.