By Coleman                                            H.B. No. 1407
         76R4110 CLG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation of the self-sufficiency fund to develop
 1-3     job training for certain recipients of Temporary Assistance for
 1-4     Needy Families.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Chapter 309 to read as follows:
 1-8                     CHAPTER 309.  SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND
 1-9           Sec. 309.001.   DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
1-10                 (1)  "Community-based organization" means a private
1-11     nonprofit organization that is representative of a community or a
1-12     significant segment of a community and that provides education,
1-13     vocational education or rehabilitation, job training, or internship
1-14     services or programs.  The term includes a neighborhood group or
1-15     organization, community action agency, community development
1-16     corporation, union-related organization, employer-related
1-17     organization, tribal government, or organization serving Native
1-18     Americans.
1-19                 (2)  "Fund" means the self-sufficiency fund created
1-20     under Section 309.002.
1-21           Sec. 309.002.  SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND.  (a)  The
1-22     self-sufficiency fund is created as an account in the  general
1-23     revenue fund for use by public community and technical colleges,
1-24     community-based organizations, and state extension agencies as
 2-1     start-up funds to develop for certain recipients of financial
 2-2     assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, customized
 2-3     job-training programs in which the recipients will be provided job
 2-4     training by:
 2-5                 (1)  an entity that develops a job-training program
 2-6     under this section;
 2-7                 (2)  a business or trade union; or
 2-8                 (3)  an informal partnership between an entity that
 2-9     develops a job-training program under this section and a small or
2-10     medium-sized business network or consortium.
2-11           (b)  Money from the fund may also be used for support
2-12     services as necessary for participants to participate in training
2-13     activities.
2-14           (c)  Money from the fund may not be used to pay the training
2-15     costs and other related costs of an employer who relocates the
2-16     employer's worksite from one location in this state to another
2-17     in-state location.
2-18           (d)  The commission shall administer the fund.  The executive
2-19     director, or a person appointed by the executive director who is
2-20     knowledgeable in the administration of grants, is responsible for
2-21     the distribution of money from the fund.
2-22           (e)  To the greatest extent practicable, money from the fund
2-23     shall be spent in all areas of the state.
2-24           Sec. 309.003.  JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS.  An entity that
2-25     receives money from the fund for a job-training  program financed
2-26     by the fund  shall work in conjunction with employers to place
2-27     graduates of the program in positions of employment in which the
 3-1     graduates will be earning wages sufficient to enable the graduates
 3-2     to become independent of financial assistance under Chapter 31,
 3-3     Human Resources Code, and, if applicable, assistance provided under
 3-4     the food stamp program administered by the Texas Department of
 3-5     Human Services under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code.
 3-6           Sec. 309.004.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.  The commission shall
 3-7     adopt rules to implement this chapter, including rules:
 3-8                 (1)  to determine which recipients of financial
 3-9     assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, are eligible to
3-10     participate in job-training programs developed with money from the
3-11     fund; and
3-12                 (2)  to ensure that an entity that develops a
3-13     job-training program with money from the fund works in conjunction
3-14     with employers to set curricula and propose employment for
3-15     participants in the program.
3-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
3-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.