HBA-TYH H.B. 3427 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3427 By: Najera Economic Development 4/12/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE An increase in the closing of companies in El Paso due to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trade Reduction Act has left displaced workers facing mortgage defaults and rental evictions. Timely emergency assistance to avoid foreclosure or eviction can prevent an increase in the number of homeless in certain areas where social service agencies are already unable to meet the existing demand. H.B. 3427 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to provide written notice of eligibility for home ownership counseling to each worker who is elibigle. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the chapter heading to Chapter 304, Labor Code, as follows: CHAPTER 304. New heading: COUNSELING FOR DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS OR WORKERS SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 304, Labor Code, by adding Section 304.005, as follows: Sec. 304.005. HOME OWNERSHIP COUNSELING FOR DISPLACED WORKERS. Requires the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) to provide written notice in English and in Spanish of eligibility for home ownership counseling under federal law to each worker residing in this state who is eligible for home ownership counseling and who meets the enumerated requirements. Provides that the notice must contain a list of home ownership counseling organizations that perform the enumerated actions, or any toll-free telephone number through which the worker can obtain the list. Requires a firm located in this state that has requested a certification of eligibility for adjustment assistance to notify the commission of that request. Defines "firm." SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.