SRC-AXB H.B. 3431 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3431
76R13799  MCK-DBy: Delisi (Fraser)
Economic Development
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness
(council) is required to report to the governor, but not the legislature,
regarding a strategic plan for workforce development. H.B. 3431 clarifies
council regulations and requires the council to report to the legislature
and to evaluate the workforce development system as a whole, rather than as
individual programs. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3431 clarifies  regulations of the Texas Council on
Workforce and Economic Competativeness and requires the council to report
to the legislature and to evaluate the workforce development system as a
whole, rather than as individual programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2308.004, Government Code, to set forth a
certain term for a program year unless otherwise specified under
appropriate state or federal law. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 2308A, Government Code, by adding Section
2308.006, as follows: 

Sec.  2308.006.  APPLICATION OF PRIOR LAW.  Sets forth provisions for the
operation of the Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness
(council) depending on certain changes in law, and sets forth the effect
such changes would make to certain statutory provisions and applications. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 2308.051(a), Government Code, to provide that
the council, rather than the Council on Workforce and Economic
Competitiveness, acts as a state workforce investment board. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 2308.052(b), Government Code, to provide that
the council is composed of certain ex officio voting members, including the
presiding officer of the policy advisory board of the Texas Department of
Economic Development, rather than Commerce. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 2308.101, Government Code, to require the
council to take certain actions regarding service delivery areas authorized
under other federal workforce legislation, and to review plans for local
workforce development, rather than training and services.  Requires the
council to encourage or develop certain projects, report to the governor
and the legislature, and provide annual reports to certain entities.  Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 2308.102(a), Government Code, to require the
council to report to, and make policy recommendations to, the legislature.
Requires the council to recommend a plan to the Texas Education Agency,
rather than other entities.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Sections 2308.104(a) and (c), Government Code, to
require the council to develop school to careers and welfare to work
components of a strategic plan.  Requires the council  to annually report
to the governor and the legislature on the implementation of the strategic
plan. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 2308.151, Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  2308.151.  New heading:  ESTABLISHMENT OF EVALUATION SYSTEM; FUNDING.
Requires council represented agencies to fund the maintenance and operation
of the evaluation system by using funds from development programs. 

SECTION 9.  Amends Sections 2308.153(b) and (c), Government Code, to
require evaluation data to include public welfare dependency factors.
Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 10.  Amends Section 2308.154, Government Code, to set forth
provisions for a workforce development, rather than education, program.
Requires the issuance of an analysis to a certain entity which is
administered by the higher education coordinating board. 

SECTION 11.  Amends Section 2308.156, Government Code, to make a
nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 12.  Amends Section 2308.203, Government Code, to create a deadline
for certain notification and make a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 13.  Amends Section 2308.402, Government Code, to require the skill
standards board to recognize certain standards and procedures and make
conforming changes. 

SECTION 14.  Repealer:  Chapter 301G, Labor Code (Legislative Oversight).

SECTION 15.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 16.  Emergency clause.