By McClendon                                            H.B. No. 48
         77R272 PB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to workforce development services provided by the Texas
 1-3     Workforce Commission under a contract with a local workforce
 1-4     development board.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 2308.303, Government Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 1-8           (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
 1-9     board may contract with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide
1-10     workforce development services, including any service the provision
1-11     of which is delegated to the board under Section 302.023, Labor
1-12     Code.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 302.002(a), Labor Code, is amended to
1-14     read as follows:
1-15           (a)  The executive director shall:
1-16                 (1)  to the extent feasible under federal law,
1-17     consolidate the administrative and programmatic functions of the
1-18     programs under the authority of the commission to achieve efficient
1-19     and effective delivery of services;
1-20                 (2)  administer each program and implement
1-21     corresponding federal and state legislation consolidated under the
1-22     authority of the commission under this chapter and other applicable
1-23     state law;
1-24                 (3)  determine the organization and methods of
 2-1     procedure of the division in accordance with applicable state and
 2-2     federal legislation;
 2-3                 (4)  appoint and prescribe the duties of all officers,
 2-4     administrators, accountants, attorneys, experts, and other
 2-5     employees as necessary in the performance of the division's duties;
 2-6                 (5)  delegate authority to persons appointed under this
 2-7     section as the executive director considers reasonable and proper
 2-8     for the effective administration of the division;
 2-9                 (6)  bond any person who handles money or signs checks
2-10     for the division;
2-11                 (7)  implement workforce training and services policies
2-12     and programs, consistent with recommendations from the council and
2-13     as approved by the governor;
2-14                 (8)  serve as an advocate at the state and federal
2-15     levels for local workforce development boards;
2-16                 (9)  contract with local workforce development boards
2-17     for program planning and service delivery;
2-18                 (10)  provide training and professional development
2-19     services for division staff, local workforce development boards,
2-20     and the staff of those boards;
2-21                 (11)  support research and demonstration projects
2-22     designed to develop new programs and approaches to service
2-23     delivery;
2-24                 (12)  provide technical assistance and support to local
2-25     workforce development boards;
2-26                 (13)  prepare an annual agency performance report for
2-27     submission to the governor, the legislature, the commission, and
 3-1     the council;
 3-2                 (14)  design and administer a statewide comprehensive
 3-3     labor market information system;
 3-4                 (15)  serve as the chair of the State Occupational
 3-5     Information Coordinating Committee;  [and]
 3-6                 (16)  perform other functions and duties as may be
 3-7     required by law or assigned by the commission; and
 3-8                 (17)  contract with local workforce development boards
 3-9     as necessary to implement Section 2308.303, Government Code.
3-10           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.