AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the provision of employment and training for certain

 1-2     persons on public assistance.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended

 1-5     by adding Section 302.003 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 302.003.  JOB RETENTION AND REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

 1-7     The division may provide ongoing job retention and reemployment

 1-8     assistance for a recipient of public assistance who has

 1-9     participated in a job training program.

1-10           SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended

1-11     by adding Section 302.004 to read as follows:

1-12           Sec. 302.004.  FUNDS FOR JOB TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES,

1-13     AND CHILD CARE.  In providing job training and employment services

1-14     and child care to eligible persons, the commission, notwithstanding

1-15     the provisions in this chapter or other law, may establish a

1-16     need-based formula to allocate funds available under the Personal

1-17     Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996

1-18     (Pub. L. No. 104-193) for job training and employment services and

1-19     child care to local workforce development areas so as to ensure

1-20     compliance with federal participation rates and requirements and

1-21     full utilization of the funding.

1-22           SECTION 3.  Section 31.010, Human Resources Code, is amended

1-23     by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read as

 2-1     follows:

 2-2           (c)  Support services include:

 2-3                 (1)  education, using public or private schools as

 2-4     necessary;

 2-5                 (2)  child care;

 2-6                 (3)  transportation assistance;

 2-7                 (4)  work skills and job readiness training;

 2-8                 (5)  instruction in job search techniques; [and]

 2-9                 (6)  job placement; and

2-10                 (7)  job retention assistance.

2-11           (f)  In providing work skills and job readiness training, the

2-12     department shall:

2-13                 (1)  emphasize training for sustainable wage jobs;

2-14                 (2)  promote understanding of nontraditional work

2-15     opportunities for recipients; and

2-16                 (3)  offer micro-enterprise development and

2-17     self-employment assistance in rural areas and other areas in which

2-18     jobs are scarce.

2-19           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-20           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-24     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. 1262 passed the Senate on

         April 24, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0; and that

         the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 23, 1997, by a

         viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1262 passed the House, with

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

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor