Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

      By Coleman                                      H.B. No. 3259

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the implementation of a work training program for

 1-3     recipients of public assistance.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.

 1-6           (a)  "allied health professionals" means paramedical

 1-7     personnel, health care workers other than physicians, dentists,

 1-8     podiatrists, and nurses who have special training in the

 1-9     performance of supportive health care tasks;

1-10           (b)  "public or private training partnership" means

1-11     hospitals, hospital districts, or any health related businesses,

1-12     networks, or consortiums in cooperation with public community and

1-13     technical colleges or other community training programs;

1-14           SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended

1-15     by adding Section 302.004 to read as follows:

1-16           Sec. 302.004.  ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TRAINING PILOT

1-17     PROGRAM.  (a)  The commission shall establish a pilot program in

1-18     which the division shall certify public or private training

1-19     partnerships that offer training and/or certification for

1-20     recipients of public assistance in allied health professions.

1-21           (b)  The commission shall cooperate with the Department of

1-22     Licensing and Regulations in the adoption of rules under this

1-23     section.  The commission may not adopt a rule under this section

1-24     that conflicts with a rule of the Department of Licensing and

 2-1     Regulations.

 2-2           (c)  The commission shall award a contract to a training

 2-3     partnership based on:

 2-4                 (1)  the number of proposed jobs created or preserved,

 2-5     the proposed initial wages for trainees who complete the program,

 2-6     and the prevailing wage for that occupation in the local allied

 2-7     health market;

 2-8                 (2)  the proposed wage increase over duration of

 2-9     employment;

2-10                 (3)  the proposed employment benefits;

2-11                 (4)  the proposed duration of employment, favoring

2-12     longer duration;

2-13                 (5)  the transferability of skills gained through

2-14     training;

2-15                 (6)  the nature of skills acquired through training;

2-16                 (7)  any resources that the prospective private partner

2-17     is willing to commit to the project;

2-18                 (8)  the financial stability of the prospective private

2-19     partner; and

2-20                 (9)  the regional economic impact.

2-21           (d)  A person who is a recipient of financial assistance

2-22     under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, may qualify to participate

2-23     in training through a pilot program by applying to the commission

2-24     and:

2-25                 (1)  demonstrating possession of general skills and

2-26     competence, as determined by commission rule; and

2-27                 (2)  demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the

2-28     commission, a long-term commitment to the allied health profession.

2-29           (e)  Funding for a person who participates in training

2-30     through a pilot program shall be provided through a work

 3-1     supplementation program for 12 months.   The commission shall

 3-2     provide additional funding for the person to participate in

 3-3     training through the pilot program in an apprenticeship role for an

 3-4     additional 12 months.

 3-5           (f)  The commission shall adopt rules that establish

 3-6     eligibility criteria for a facility to participate in a pilot

 3-7     program and provide requirements for implementation of the pilot

 3-8     program.

 3-9           (g)  The commission shall report not later than January 31,

3-10     1999, to the presiding officer of each house of the 76th

3-11     Legislature, Regular Session, regarding the results of the pilot

3-12     programs created under this section.  The report must include

3-13     recommendations to the legislature regarding the development of a

3-14     statewide allied health professions training program for recipients

3-15     of public assistance.

3-16           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

3-17           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

3-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

3-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

3-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

3-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.