HBA-SEP H.B. 935 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 935
By: Solis
Economic Development
2/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND 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 (TWC) 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.  House Bill 935 requires TWC to
develop and implement a flexibility rating system for directives sent by
TWC to boards and to provide the boards with an explanation of the system's
ratings.   

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 302.044, Labor Code) in this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 935 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC) to develop and implement a flexibility rating system no
later than January 1, 2002 for directives sent by TWC to local workforce
development boards (boards) and to adopt rules for the implementation of
the system.  The bill also requires TWC to provide the boards with an
explanation of the system's ratings. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.