1-1 By: Ellis, West, Zaffirini S.B. No. 1114 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 11, 1997; March 13, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; 1-4 March 26, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 11, 1-5 Nays 0; March 26, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the establishment of a "wheels for work" pilot program 1-9 to assist certain recipients of AFDC. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The Texas Workforce 1-12 Commission by rule shall develop a "wheels for work" pilot program 1-13 in a county with a population of more than 2.8 million designed to 1-14 make donated cars available at a low cost to certain persons who 1-15 receive financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources 1-16 Code, to enable those persons to find and maintain employment. 1-17 (b) In adopting rules under this section, the commission 1-18 shall: 1-19 (1) use the Maryland "wheels for work" initiative as a 1-20 model for the pilot program; 1-21 (2) ensure that participation in the program is 1-22 limited to persons who have secured employment but are unable to 1-23 accept or retain the employment solely because of a lack of 1-24 transportation; 1-25 (3) ensure that a person who donates a car for use in 1-26 the pilot program will receive a charitable donation receipt for 1-27 federal income tax purposes; and 1-28 (4) set a timetable to implement and complete the 1-29 pilot program. 1-30 (c) The Texas Department of Human Services shall provide to 1-31 the commission information as necessary to implement the pilot 1-32 program and complete the report required by Section 2 of this Act. 1-33 SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than January 15, 2001, the 1-34 Texas Workforce Commission shall submit to the governor and the 1-35 77th Legislature a report concerning the effectiveness of the pilot 1-36 program. 1-37 SECTION 3. WAIVER. If before implementing Section 1 of this 1-38 Act the Texas Workforce Commission or other state agency determines 1-39 that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary 1-40 for implementation, the agency shall request the waiver or 1-41 authorization and may delay implementing those provisions until the 1-42 waiver or authorization is granted. 1-43 SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DEADLINES. (a) This Act 1-44 takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-45 (b) The Texas Workforce Commission shall establish the pilot 1-46 program required by this Act not later than January 1, 1998. 1-47 SECTION 5. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires September 1, 1-48 2001. 1-49 SECTION 6. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 1-50 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-51 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-52 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-53 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-54 * * * * *