By Hilderbran                                        H.C.R. No. 204

         75R11194 AMB-F                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Work is the only sure path to self-sufficiency and

 1-2     self-reliance; and

 1-3           WHEREAS, The purpose of Temporary Assistance to Needy

 1-4     Families (TANF) is to create job opportunities for employable

 1-5     people that offer the chance to work toward independence from

 1-6     government assistance; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Helping unemployed welfare job applicants to find

 1-8     and retain a job is the state's top priority in administering TANF;

 1-9     and

1-10           WHEREAS, Subsidized work programs convert cash and food stamp

1-11     benefits into employment subsidies and provide welfare recipients

1-12     with the paid work experience necessary to get a good job; in

1-13     addition, these work programs embody local control and

1-14     public-private partnerships in developing jobs; and

1-15           WHEREAS, For unemployed applicants receiving temporary public

1-16     assistance, the subsidized work program can provide skills

1-17     assessment, one-on-one mentoring by experienced workers, job

1-18     placement, basic workplace training, and a new opportunity for

1-19     self-reliance; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Everyone benefits from reduced welfare dependency;

1-21     now, therefore, be it

1-22           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-23     hereby direct the Texas Workforce Commission, with assistance from

1-24     the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas

 2-1     Department of Human Services, to implement a subsidized work

 2-2     program for unemployed job applicants receiving cash benefits from

 2-3     the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; and, be it

 2-4     further

 2-5           RESOLVED, That local workforce development boards develop

 2-6     guidelines for setting placement priorities and determine the

 2-7     number of applicants that may be assigned by the program to any one

 2-8     employer based on workforce needs and area demographics; and, be it

 2-9     further

2-10           RESOLVED, That the Texas Workforce Commission serve as a

2-11     resource to local workforce boards in implementing a subsidized

2-12     work program and review the program quarterly; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That the Texas Workforce Commission submit a full

2-14     report on program effectiveness to the governor and to the 76th

2-15     Legislature when that legislature convenes in January 1999; and, be

2-16     it further

2-17           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

2-18     copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas

2-19     Workforce Commission.