HBA-BSM C.S.H.B. 2786 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2786
By: Noriega
Economic Development
5/3/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Workforce Investment Act authorizes three funding streams for job
training for dislocated workers, adults, and youths.  Several state
agencies administer block grants that fund various programs.  The National
Guard of Texas has expressed interest in contracting with the Texas
Workforce Commission (TWC) to sponsor a new drug demand reduction program
titled "About Face."  The program would deliver a life skills curriculum to
financially disadvantaged teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 whose
parents are receiving public assistance.  The National Guard of Texas
believes this program will help the youth of Texas to become successfully
employed and drug free.  C.S.H.B. 2786 requires the division workforce
development of the Texas Workforce Commission to develop contracts between
the TWC, local workforce boards, and the Texas National Guard to establish
the youth About Face program.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2786 amends the Labor Code to require the division of workforce
development of the Texas Workforce Commission to the extent permitted under
federal law to coordinate the implementation of the Texas National Guard's
youth About Face programs through local workforce development boards.   

C.S.H.B. 2786 amends the Government Code to require each career development
center established by a local workforce development board in cooperation
with the Texas National Guard to implement the Texas National Guard's youth
About Face programs by: 

 _acting as fiscal agent for activities under the programs;
 
 _determining eligibility for participation in the programs and referring
eligible individuals to the Texas National Guard for participation in the
programs; and 
 
 _processing reports required by the programs.

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. 2786 differs from the original bill by removing the requirement
that the division of workforce development of the Texas Workforce
Commission to coordinate the  implementation of  the adult Forward March
programs.