HBA-AMW, KDB, SEP C.S.H.B. 230 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 230
By: Wise

Economic Development 3/14/2001 
Committee Report (Substituted)
       

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) rules, TWC is
responsible for overseeing  workforce development programs that are geared
toward certain populations with a high incidence of unemployment or
underemployment.  Military veterans, who make up an important part of the
overall population of Texas, are not included in the populations
specifically assisted by TWC. Upon returning from military service, many
veterans find it difficult to gain employment because employers are
reluctant to hire newly-discharged veterans who have been away from
civilian employment for so many years.  C.S.H.B. 230 requires TWC to give
priority to veterans when determining which recipients will be accepted for
various workforce development training programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Workforce Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 302.010, Labor Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 230 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC) and any other provider of job training and employment
services, in accepting an applicant for job training and employment
services, to grant priority for admission to a veteran who otherwise
qualifies for the benefit or services, meets the eligibility criteria and
qualifications for the specific program, and applies for priority status.
The application for priority status must include information or be
accompanied by documentation that satisfies TWC  or the provider that the
applying veteran served: 
  
 _on active duty and was discharged or released from active duty with an
honorable discharge or because of an established service-connected
disability; or 


 _as a member of a reserve component on active duty during a war or in a
campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge or ribbon is authorized
and was discharged or released from the duty with an honorable discharge. 

The bill also requires TWC to adopt rules and prescribe forms as necessary
to administer these provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 230 modifies the original bill by adding the provision that a
veteran must otherwise qualify for the benefit or services to be eligible
for priority status for job training and employment services.