By Naishtat H.B. No. 3631
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to financial assistance and related services for TANF
1-3 clients who are victims of family violence.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B. Chapter 31, Sec. 31.0321, Human
1-6 Resources Code is amended by adding the following:
1-7 (d) Staff of the department, the Texas Workforce Commission,
1-8 local workforce boards and their subcontractors, and the Title IV-D
1-9 agency shall receive a minimum of four hours of training about
1-10 domestic violence, its potential impact on clients' safety and
1-11 their successful transition into the workforce, state laws and
1-12 agency rules regarding options available to TANF clients for whom
1-13 domestic violence poses a danger or an impediment to attaining self
1-14 sufficiency, and resources available within state or local
1-15 government agencies and in local communities to assist victims of
1-16 domestic violence in making a safe and successful transition into
1-17 the workforce. Such training shall be provided for all staff who:
1-18 (1) Provide information to TANF applicants and clients
1-19 about participation requirements in the TANF program;
1-20 (2) Explain, recommend, or grant good cause exemptions
1-21 from participation requirements;
2-1 (3) Assess employment readiness or provide employment
2-2 planning or employment retention services to clients; or
2-3 (4) Recommend or impose sanctions for noncooperation
2-4 or noncompliance with TANF requirements.
2-5 (e) Before a sanction is imposed on a TANF recipient who
2-6 fails to fulfill TANF cooperation or participation requirements,
2-7 the recipient shall be interviewed by an appropriately trained
2-8 person to determine if domestic violence or other significant
2-9 barriers have contributed to the failure, whether good cause
2-10 reasons for noncooperation or noncompliance exist, and the kinds of
2-11 services or support systems needed to assist the recipient in
2-12 safely and successfully complying with TANF requirements and
2-13 becoming self-sufficient.
2-14 [(d)] (f) The department shall coordinate the development of
2-15 procedures under this section in collaboration with the Texas
2-16 Workforce Commission, the Title IV-D agency, and at least one
2-17 statewide advocacy group for victims of domestic violence.
2-18 [(e)] (g) In this section:
2-19 (1) "Family violence" has the meaning assigned by
2-20 Section 71.004, Family Code.
2-21 (2) "Title IV-D agency" has the meaning assigned by
2-22 Section 101.033, Family Code.
2-23 SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Department of Human Services,
2-24 using an independent research group, shall conduct a study using
2-25 existing department funds to:
3-1 (1) develop procedures for identifying TANF applicants
3-2 or recipients for whom domestic violence poses a significant
3-3 barrier to employment and self-sufficiency;
3-4 (2) identify services or support systems TANF clients
3-5 who are victims of domestic violence consider most beneficial in
3-6 helping them to succeed in employment and to become
3-7 self-sufficient; and
3-8 (3) identify the availability of appropriate services
3-9 and support systems identified in Sec. 2(a)(2).
3-10 (b) The department shall report the results of this study to
3-11 the Texas Legislature no later than January 15, 2001.
3-12 SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 15, 2001, the Texas
3-13 Department of Human Services, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
3-14 the Title IV-D agency shall submit a joint report to the
3-15 legislature concerning implementation of Section 31.0321, Human
3-16 Resources Code. The report must include:
3-17 (a) evidence that provisions of this section have been
3-18 implemented statewide;
3-19 (b) the number of waivers, exemptions, or modifications of
3-20 requirements granted due to domestic violence; and
3-21 (c) recommendations for future actions to assist TANF
3-22 clients who are domestic violence victims in achieving
3-23 self-sufficiency and safety.
3-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.