By:  Ellis, West                                      S.B. No. 1492

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the provision of job training for AFDC recipients.

 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-3                      ARTICLE 1.  SELF SUFFICIENCY FUND

 1-4           SECTION 1.01.  Chapter 303, Labor Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Section 303.005 to read as follows:

 1-6           Section 303.005 Self-Sufficiency Fund

 1-7           (a)  To achieve the purposes of this chapter, a

 1-8     self-sufficiency fund is created to develop training for recipients

 1-9     of public assistance.

1-10           (b)  The self-sufficiency fund may be used by public

1-11     community and technical colleges and community based organizations

1-12     as start-up funds for the following job-training purposes:

1-13                 (1)  developing customized training programs for

1-14     businesses and trade unions; and

1-15                 (2)  sponsoring small and medium-sized business

1-16     networks and consortiums.

1-17           (c)  Money from the skills development fund may not be used

1-18     to pay the training costs and other relate costs of an employer who

1-19     relocates the employer's worksite from one location in this state

1-20     to another in-state location.

1-21           (d)  The executive director, or a person appointed by the

 2-1     executive director who is knowledgeable in the administration of

 2-2     grants, is responsible for the distribution of money from the

 2-3     skills development fund.

 2-4           (e)  The executive director shall develop criteria to ensure

 2-5     that employers and training resources work together to propose

 2-6     training and employment for a specific number of clients.

 2-7           (f)  The funds may also be used for support services

 2-8     necessary for recipients to participate in training activities.

 2-9           (g)  It is the intent of the legislature that, to the

2-10     greatest extent practicable, money from the self-sufficiency fund

2-11     shall be spent in all areas of this state.

2-12          ARTICLE 2.  SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RECIPIENTS OF FINANCIAL

2-13                                 ASSISTANCE

2-14           SECTION 2.01.  SECTION 31.010, Human Resources Code, is

2-15     amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to

2-16     read as follows:

2-17           (c)  Support services include:

2-18                 (1)  education, using public or private schools as

2-19     necessary;

2-20                 (2)  child care;

2-21                 (3)  transportation assistance;

2-22                 (4)  work skills and job readiness training;

2-23                 (5)  instruction in job search techniques; [and]

2-24                 (6)  job placement; and

2-25                 (7)  job retention assistance.

 3-1           (f)  In providing work skills and job readiness training, the

 3-2     department shall:

 3-3                 (1)  emphasize training for sustainable-wage jobs;

 3-4                 (2)  promote understanding of nontraditional work

 3-5     opportunities for recipients; and

 3-6                 (3)  offer micro enterprise development and

 3-7     self-employment assistance in rural areas and other areas where

 3-8     jobs are scarce.

 3-9                    ARTICLE 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE; EMERGENCY

3-10           SECTION 3.01.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

3-11           SECTION 3.02.  The importance of this legislation and the

3-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

3-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

3-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

3-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.