AN ACT
1-1 relating to the creation of the self-sufficiency fund to develop
1-2 job training for certain recipients of Temporary Assistance for
1-3 Needy Families.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Chapter 309 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 309. SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND
1-8 Sec. 309.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-9 (1) "Community-based organization" means a private
1-10 nonprofit organization that is representative of a community or a
1-11 significant segment of a community and that provides education,
1-12 vocational education or rehabilitation, job training, or internship
1-13 services or programs. The term includes a neighborhood group or
1-14 organization, community action agency, community development
1-15 corporation, union-related organization, employer-related
1-16 organization, faith-based organization, tribal government, or
1-17 organization serving Native Americans.
1-18 (2) "Fund" means the self-sufficiency fund created
1-19 under Section 309.002.
1-20 Sec. 309.002. SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND. (a) Subject to the
1-21 availability of funds, the self-sufficiency fund is created as an
1-22 account in the general revenue fund for use by public community
1-23 and technical colleges, community-based organizations, and state
1-24 extension agencies to develop for certain recipients of financial
2-1 assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, customized
2-2 job-training programs in which the recipients will be provided job
2-3 training by:
2-4 (1) an entity that develops a job-training program
2-5 under this section;
2-6 (2) a small or medium-sized business or trade union;
2-7 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 prepare for and
2-13 participate in training activities and to make the transition from
2-14 training activities to employment.
2-15 (c) The commission shall administer the fund. The executive
2-16 director, or a person appointed by the executive director who is
2-17 knowledgeable in the administration of grants, is responsible for
2-18 the distribution of money from the fund.
2-19 (d) To the greatest extent practicable, money from the fund
2-20 shall be spent in all areas of the state.
2-21 Sec. 309.003. JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS. (a) A job-training
2-22 program financed by the fund:
2-23 (1) must be specifically designed to:
2-24 (A) ensure that participants meet applicable
2-25 state and federal work requirements;
2-26 (B) enable participants to find and apply for
3-1 existing jobs; and
3-2 (C) include the involvement of employers who
3-3 provide assistance in setting curricula and standards for
3-4 job-training programs developed with money from the fund and are
3-5 committed to hiring graduates of the programs; and
3-6 (2) is considered a work or employment activity for
3-7 purposes of Section 31.012, Human Resources Code.
3-8 (b) An entity that receives money from the fund for a
3-9 job-training program shall work in conjunction with employers to
3-10 place graduates of the program in positions of employment in which
3-11 the graduates will be earning wages sufficient to enable the
3-12 graduates to become independent of financial assistance under
3-13 Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, and if applicable, assistance
3-14 provided under the food stamp program administered by the Texas
3-15 Department of Human Services under Chapter 33, Human Resources
3-16 Code.
3-17 Sec. 309.004. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission shall
3-18 adopt rules to implement this chapter, including rules to determine
3-19 which recipients of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human
3-20 Resources Code, are eligible to participate in job-training
3-21 programs developed with money from the fund.
3-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-23 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 343 passed the Senate on
March 11, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 343 passed the House on
May 4, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor