HBA-TYH H.B. 3596 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3596
By: McClendon
Economic Development
4/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

During the 74th legislative session, legislation was passed to place
decision-making power about employment related services in the hands of
local government through local workforce development boards (boards).
Boards are required to contract with "an appropriate entity" for the
provision of those services.  The legislative intent was to allow boards
the option to have state employees continue to provide the services
delegated to the boards. 

Currently, the Texas Workforce Commission has adopted a policy restricting
state employees from providing services delegated to the boards.  While
some local boards have willingly chosen private firms or local government
agencies to provide services, others have expressed a desire to continue
services provided by state employees. 

H.B. 3596 authorizes local workforce development boards, notwithstanding
any other provision of this chapter, to contract with the Texas Workforce
Commission (commission) to provide workforce development services,
including any service the provision of which is delegated to the board.
This bill requires the director of the division of workforce development of
the commission to contract with local workforce development boards. 

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 Section 2308.303, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(e), as follows:  
 
(e)  Authorizes a local workforce development board (board),
notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, to contract with the
Texas Workforce Commission to provide workforce development services,
including any service the provision of which is delegated to the board
under Section 302.023 (Delegation of Functions), Labor Code.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 302.002(a), Labor Code, to require the executive
director to contract with local workforce development boards as necessary
to implement Section 2308.303 (Board Duties), Government Code. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.