AN ACT

 1-1     relating to participation of certain AFDC recipients in the job

 1-2     opportunities and basic skills (JOBS) training program.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subsection (c), Section 31.012, Human Resources

 1-5     Code, is amended to read as follows:

 1-6           (c)  A person who is the caretaker of a physically or

 1-7     mentally disabled child who requires the caretaker's presence is

 1-8     not required to participate in a program under this section.

 1-9     Effective September 1, 1995, a person is not required to

1-10     participate in a program under this section until the person's

1-11     youngest child at the time the person first became eligible for

1-12     assistance reaches the age of five.  Effective September 1, 1997, a

1-13     person is exempt until the person's youngest child at the time the

1-14     person first became eligible for assistance reaches the age of

1-15     four.  Notwithstanding Sections 31.0035(b) and 32.0255(b), the

1-16     department shall provide to a person who is exempt under this

1-17     subsection and who voluntarily participates [volunteers to

1-18     participate] in a program under Subsection (a)(2) six months of

1-19     transitional benefits in addition to the applicable limit

1-20     prescribed by Section 31.0065.

1-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

1-22     applies only to a person who receives financial assistance under

1-23     Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on or after that date, regardless

 2-1     of the date on which eligibility for that assistance was

 2-2     determined.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 57 passed the Senate on

         February 12, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 57 passed the House on

         May 21, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor