SRC-PNG S.B. 748 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 748 By: Shapleigh Economic Development 6/18/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, Texas leads the nation in the number of job losses related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Displaced workers who own their own homes and are unable to secure employment face the threat of losing their homes. This bill requires the Texas Workforce Commission to provide written notice of the availability of home ownership counseling to workers who lose their jobs, as a result of NAFTA or another international trade agreement. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 748 provides notice of home ownership counseling for displaced workers. 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 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 (TWC) to provide written notice in English and Spanish of eligibility for home ownership counseling under federal law to each worker residing in this state who meets certain criteria. Requires the notice to contain certain information. Requires a firm located in this state that has requested a certification of eligibility for adjustment assistance under 19 U.S.C. Section 2341, as amended, to notify TWC of that request. Defines "firm." SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.