By Truan                                              S.B. No. 1507
         76R1956 JMM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the evaluation by the Texas Workforce Commission of
 1-3     federal trade adjustment programs designed to assist certain
 1-4     persons in obtaining employment.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended
 1-7     by adding Section 302.006 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 302.006.  PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT
 1-9     PROGRAMS.  (a)  The commission shall adopt standards to be used in
1-10     evaluating the effectiveness of federal programs designed to
1-11     provide trade adjustment assistance to persons in this state.
1-12           (b)  In adopting performance standards under this section,
1-13     the commission shall evaluate the number of persons who enter
1-14     employment after participation in a program described by Subsection
1-15     (a)  and the number of persons who have increased income as the
1-16     result of participation in the program.  In making the evaluation
1-17     required by this subsection, the commission may consider whether a
1-18     person:
1-19                 (1)  is placed in unsubsidized employment;
1-20                 (2)  retains the employment for at least six months;
1-21                 (3)  has increased wages, including hourly wages;
1-22                 (4)  is less dependent on public assistance; and
1-23                 (5)  has acquired skills, including basic skills,
1-24     required to promote continued employability in the person's local
 2-1     labor market.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-3           (b)  The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt performance
 2-4     standards required under this Act not later than January 1, 2000.
 2-5           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.