By Ellis                                        S.B. No. 1491

      75R7748 CLG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the creation of the self-sufficiency fund to develop

 1-3     job training for certain recipients of the financial assistance

 1-4     program for persons with dependent children.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by

 1-7     adding Chapter 308 to read as follows:

 1-8                     CHAPTER 308.  SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND

 1-9           Sec. 308.001.  SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND.  (a)  Subject to the

1-10     availability of funds, the self-sufficiency fund is created outside

1-11     the state treasury for use by public community and technical

1-12     colleges and community-based organizations as start-up or emergency

1-13     funds to develop customized job-training programs for certain

1-14     recipients of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human

1-15     Resources Code.  The programs must be specifically designed to

1-16     enable the recipients to find and apply for existing jobs.

1-17           (b)  The commission shall administer the self-sufficiency

1-18     fund.  The executive director, or a person appointed by the

1-19     executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of

1-20     grants, is responsible for the distribution of money from the fund.

1-21           (c)  To the greatest extent practicable, money from the

1-22     self-sufficiency fund shall be spent in all areas of the state.

1-23           (d)  In this section, "community-based organization" has the

1-24     meaning assigned by 20 U.S.C. Section 1201a, and its subsequent

 2-1     amendments.

 2-2           Sec. 308.002.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.  The commission shall

 2-3     adopt rules to implement this chapter, including rules to determine

 2-4     which recipients of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human

 2-5     Resources Code, are eligible to participate in job-training

 2-6     programs developed with money from the self-sufficiency fund.

 2-7           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-8     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-9     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-10     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-11     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-12     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-13     passage, and it is so enacted.