1-1     By:  Ellis                                            S.B. No. 1491

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 1997; March 20, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 21, 1997,

 1-4     reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 12, Nays 0; April 21, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1491               By:  Zaffirini

 1-7                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-8                                   AN ACT

 1-9     relating to the creation of the self-sufficiency fund to develop

1-10     job training for certain recipients of the financial assistance

1-11     program for persons with dependent children.

1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-13           SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by

1-14     adding Chapter 308 to read as follows:

1-15                     CHAPTER 308.  SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND

1-16           Sec. 308.001.  SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND.  (a)  Subject to the

1-17     availability of funds, the self-sufficiency fund is created as an

1-18     account in the  general revenue fund for use by public community

1-19     and technical colleges, community-based organizations, and state

1-20     extension agencies for the following job-training purposes:

1-21                 (1)  developing customized job-training programs for

1-22     certain recipients of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human

1-23     Resources Code;

1-24                 (2)  developing customized job-training programs for

1-25     businesses and trade unions; and

1-26                 (3)  sponsoring small and medium-sized business

1-27     networks and consortiums.

1-28           (b)  The job-training programs described by Subsection (a)(1)

1-29     must be specifically designed to enable the recipients to find and

1-30     apply for existing jobs and will involve employers who participate

1-31     in setting curricula and standards and commit to hire graduates of

1-32     training programs.

1-33           (c)  Training programs funded by the self-sufficiency fund

1-34     must ensure that participants in the program meet applicable state

1-35     and federal work requirements.  Participants in a program funded by

1-36     the self-sufficiency fund shall be considered to be meeting the

1-37     work requirements under Section 31.012, Human Resources Code.

1-38           (d)  Training programs funded by the self-sufficiency fund

1-39     shall work with employers to place graduates of training programs

1-40     in employment with wages reasonably calculated to make the graduate

1-41     independent of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human

1-42     Resources Code, and food assistance under Chapter 33, Human

1-43     Resources Code.

1-44           (e)  The commission shall administer the self-sufficiency

1-45     fund.  The executive director, or a person appointed by the

1-46     executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of

1-47     grants, is responsible for the distribution of money from the fund.

1-48           (f)  The executive director shall develop criteria to ensure

1-49     that employers and training resources work together to propose

1-50     training and employment for a specific number of clients.

1-51           (g)  The funds may also be used for support services as

1-52     necessary for participants to prepare for and participate in

1-53     training activities and to make the transition from training

1-54     activities to employment.

1-55           (h)  To the greatest extent practicable, money from the

1-56     self-sufficiency fund shall be spent in all areas of the state.

1-57           (i)  In this section, "community-based organization" has the

1-58     meaning assigned by 20 U.S.C. Section 1201a, and its subsequent

1-59     amendments.  A community-based organization participating in a

1-60     program funded by the self-sufficiency fund may be a faith-based

1-61     organization.

1-62           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-63     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-64     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

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

 2-3     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-4     passage, and it is so enacted.

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