By Dutton                                             H.B. No. 3710
         76R9219 T                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to creation of a homeless employment outreach program by
 1-3     the Texas Workforce Commission
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 302.001, Chapter 302, Subchapter A, Labor
 1-6     Code is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows:
 1-7                 (3)  "A homeless individual" means an individual
 1-8     defined by 42 U.S.C.A., Section 11302.
 1-9           SECTION 2.  Chapter 302, Subchapter A, Labor Code is amended
1-10     by adding the following new language to read as follows:
1-11           SECTION 302.008.  HOMELESS EMPLOYMENT OUTREACH PROGRAM.  (a)
1-12     The commission, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Housing
1-13     and Community Affairs, the Texas Interagency Council for the
1-14     Homeless, the Office for Education of the Homeless Children and
1-15     Youth at the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at
1-16     Austin, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Governor's
1-17     Office of Budget and Planning State Grants Writing Team, the Texas
1-18     Department of Economic Development local workforce development
1-19     boards and other employment services providers and non profit
1-20     homeless shelters shall establish a homeless employment outreach
1-21     program to assist homeless individuals in seeking employment and
1-22     job training.
1-23           (b)  The commission, in cooperation with agencies and
1-24     organizations mention in Subsection (a), shall develop a homeless
 2-1     employment outreach plan that outlines the mission, goals and
 2-2     timeframes for program implementation and reporting.  The plan
 2-3     shall include, but not be limited to:
 2-4                 (1)  Providing vocational and educational assessment
 2-5     for homeless individuals;
 2-6                 (2)  Creating a skills enhancement program for homeless
 2-7     individuals in cooperation with other government, educational and
 2-8     private entities by using available or private financial resources;
 2-9                 (3)  Developing an outreach program in cooperation with
2-10     individuals, businesses, governmental entities and manufacturers to
2-11     disseminate materials on employment opportunities and training
2-12     resources, sponsoring or cosponsoring job seminars, job fairs and
2-13     workshops for homeless individuals;
2-14           (c)  The commission, in cooperation with the agencies and
2-15     organizations mention in Subsection (a), shall develop a Homeless
2-16     Employment Resource Guide to provide homeless individuals, service
2-17     providers, non-profit organizations information on funding
2-18     resources, job training initiatives, transportation initiatives,
2-19     child care information and incentives for employment and job
2-20     creation.  In developing the resource guide, the commission shall
2-21     make use of existing resources and information materials provided
2-22     by agencies and organizations mention in subsection (a) of this
2-23     section.
2-24           (d)  In order to implement this section, the commission may
2-25     use money from other entities by gift or grant by contract.
2-26           (e)  The commission by December 1, 2000 shall draft and file
2-27     with the appropriate committees a report discussing the results of
 3-1     the program, barriers to employment for homeless individuals and
 3-2     recommendations to the 77th Legislature."
 3-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 3-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 3-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 3-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 3-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 3-8     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 3-9     passage, and it is so enacted.