By Najera H.B. No. 3427
76R6362 DB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to home ownership counseling for displaced workers.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. The chapter heading to Chapter 304, Labor Code,
1-5 is amended to read as follows:
1-6 CHAPTER 304. [EMPLOYMENT] COUNSELING
1-7 FOR DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS OR WORKERS
1-8 SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Labor Code, is amended by adding
1-9 Section 304.005 to read as follows:
1-10 Sec. 304.005. HOME OWNERSHIP COUNSELING FOR DISPLACED
1-11 WORKERS. (a) The commission shall provide written notice in
1-12 English and in Spanish of eligibility for home ownership counseling
1-13 under federal law to each worker residing in this state who is
1-14 eligible for home ownership counseling under 12 U.S.C. Section
1-15 1701x, as amended, and who:
1-16 (1) is covered by a certification of eligibility for
1-17 adjustment assistance under 19 U.S.C. Section 2331, as amended; or
1-18 (2) is threatened to become totally or partially
1-19 separated, or has become totally or partially separated, from a
1-20 firm that is certified eligible for adjustment assistance under 19
1-21 U.S.C. Section 2341, as amended.
1-22 (b) The notice must contain:
1-23 (1) a list of home ownership counseling organizations
1-24 that:
2-1 (A) receive assistance under 12 U.S.C. Section
2-2 1701x, as amended; and
2-3 (B) serve the area in which the worker's home is
2-4 located; or
2-5 (2) any toll-free telephone number through which the
2-6 worker can obtain the list prescribed by Subdivision (1).
2-7 (c) A firm located in this state that has requested a
2-8 certification of eligibility for adjustment assistance under 19
2-9 U.S.C. Section 2341, as amended, shall notify the commission of
2-10 that request.
2-11 (d) In this section, "firm" has the meaning assigned by 19
2-12 U.S.C. Section 2351, as amended.
2-13 SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
2-14 to:
2-15 (1) a worker who is covered by a certification of
2-16 eligibility issued on or after the effective date of this Act;
2-17 (2) a worker who is employed by a person who is
2-18 covered by a certification of eligibility issued on or after the
2-19 effective date of this Act; or
2-20 (3) a firm that has requested a certification of
2-21 eligibility on or after the effective date of this Act.
2-22 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-23 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-27 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.