SRC-TBR, H.B. 935 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 935 77R2390 KSD-DBy: Solis, Jim (Jackson) Business & Commerce 4/29/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In 1995, the Texas legislature decentralized most workforce services through the creation of local workforce development boards (boards) in an effort to allow each board to create customized solutions to the unique workforce needs of its region. The Texas Workforce Commission (commission) issues directives and guidelines to the 28 boards through workforce development letters and informational notices. Under current law, boards may lack information on the degree of flexibility with which they have to implement the directives and adopt guidelines. H.B. 935 requires the commission to develop and implement a flexibility rating system for directives sent by the commission to boards and to provide the boards with an explanation of the system's ratings. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 302.044, Labor Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 302C, Labor Code, to require the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) to develop and implement a flexibility rating system for directives sent by the commission to local workforce development boards. Requires a rating assigned to a directive under the system to indicate the degree of flexibility that a local workforce development board has in implementing the directive. Requires the commission to provide an explanation of the ratings assigned under the system to each local workforce development board. Requires the commission to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Requires the commission to implement the flexibility rating system prescribed by Section 302.044, Labor Code, as added by this Act, by January 1, 2002.