SRC-JEC, JBJ S.B. 46 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 46 77R501 KKA-FBy: Zaffirini Health & Human Services 2/26/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Domestic violence can create a barrier to employment as well as be a safety threat. As proposed, S.B. 46 requires employees of certain agencies who deal directly with people seeking or receiving financial assistance to receive at least four hours of training about family violence. It also requires that before the application of a sanction or penalty against a client of certain agencies, the client must be interviewed to determine if family violence contributed to the client's situation and if so, the agency is required to identify the types of services necessary to assist the individual in entering the workforce. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 31.0322, Human Resources Code, by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h), as follows: (e) Requires the Texas Department of Human Services (department), the Texas Workforce Commission (commission), the Title IV-D agency, and each local workforce development board (board) to provide not less than four hours of training regarding family violence to each employee or other person who, on behalf of the department, commission, agency, or board: _provides information relating to requirements described by Subsection (a) and the availability of waivers or modifications of those requirements to an individual seeking or receiving financial assistance; _recommends or grants waivers or modifications authorized by this section of requirements described by Subsection (a); _recommends or imposes sanctions for noncooperation or noncompliance with requirements described by Subsection (a); or _assesses employment readiness or provides employment planning or employment retention services to an individual receiving financial assistance. (f) Requires the training required by Subsection (e) to include information relating to: _the potential impact of family violence on the safety of an individual seeking or receiving financial assistance, and the ability of that individual to make a successful transition into the workforce; _state laws and agency rules regarding options available to an individual receiving financial assistance for whom family violence poses a danger or impediment to attaining financial independence; and _statewide and local resources available from state and local governmental agencies and other entities that could assist a victim of family violence in safely and successfully entering the workforce. (g) Requires that a person who has received the training required by Subsection (e), before the application of a sanction or penalty based on an individual's failure to cooperate with the department or Title IV-D agency, as required by Section 31.0031(d)(1), or failure to comply with the work or participation requirements imposed by Section 31.012, interview the individual to: _determine whether family violence contributed to the failure; and _if so, identify the types of services necessary to assist the individual in safely and successfully entering the workforce. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.