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.