1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the work or employment activities required under the
1-3 temporary assistance for needy families program.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Labor Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Section 301.0675 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 301.0675. WORK OR EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES FOR RECIPIENTS
1-8 OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES. (a) The commission by
1-9 rule shall determine the work or employment activities in which a
1-10 person must participate to comply with Section 31.012, Human
1-11 Resources Code.
1-12 (b) In adopting rules under this section, the commission
1-13 shall provide for a broad array of permissible work or employment
1-14 activities designed to:
1-15 (1) assist a person in entering the workforce and
1-16 becoming self-supporting;
1-17 (2) address and remove barriers that prevent a person
1-18 from entering the workforce and becoming self-supporting; and
1-19 (3) exercise all flexibility in permissible work or
1-20 employment activities authorized by federal law.
1-21 (c) The rules must provide for at least the following
1-22 permissible work or employment activities within federal limits:
1-23 (1) unsubsidized employment;
1-24 (2) subsidized private or public sector employment;
2-1 (3) work experience, including work associated with
2-2 the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing;
2-3 (4) on-the-job training;
2-4 (5) job search and job readiness assistance, including
2-5 activities designed to address and remove barriers to employment,
2-6 such as counseling and other services relating to mental health,
2-7 substance abuse, or family violence;
2-8 (6) participation in a community service program,
2-9 including the VISTA program;
2-10 (7) participation in educational activities,
2-11 including:
2-12 (A) attendance in an elementary, secondary,
2-13 postsecondary, vocational, or technical school;
2-14 (B) attendance in a program leading to a high
2-15 school equivalency certificate;
2-16 (C) attendance in an adult education or literacy
2-17 program; and
2-18 (D) receipt of instruction in English as a
2-19 second language;
2-20 (8) training in job skills that are directly related
2-21 to employment;
2-22 (9) the provision of child-care services to a person
2-23 participating in a community service program; and
2-24 (10) another activity described by Section 31.0125,
2-25 31.0126, or 31.0135, Human Resources Code.
2-26 (d) The commission shall permit a person younger than 20
2-27 years of age to comply with Section 31.012, Human Resources Code,
3-1 through participating solely in full-time educational activities
3-2 authorized by Subsection (c)(7) for an unlimited amount of time.
3-3 (e) The commission, the Texas Department of Human Services,
3-4 and the local workforce development boards shall perform agency and
3-5 board duties related to requiring compliance with the work or
3-6 employment activities requirements imposed by Section 31.012, Human
3-7 Resources Code, in the least intrusive manner possible.
3-8 SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a
3-9 state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
3-10 federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
3-11 the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
3-12 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
3-13 waiver or authorization is granted.
3-14 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
3-15 applies to a person receiving financial assistance under Chapter
3-16 31, Human Resources Code, on or after that date, regardless of the
3-17 date on which eligibility for financial assistance was determined.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1004 was passed by the House on
May 2, 2001, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1004 on May 24, 2001, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1004 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 17, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0, 1 present, not voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor