By Naishtat H.B. No. 1004
77R3292 KKA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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 any barrier that prevents a
1-18 person from entering the workforce and becoming self-supporting;
1-19 and
1-20 (3) exercise all flexibility in permissible work or
1-21 employment activities authorized by federal law.
1-22 (c) The rules must provide for at least the following
1-23 permissible work or employment activities:
1-24 (1) unsubsidized employment;
2-1 (2) subsidized private or public sector employment;
2-2 (3) work experience, including work associated with
2-3 the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing;
2-4 (4) on-the-job training;
2-5 (5) job search and job readiness assistance, including
2-6 activities designed to address and remove barriers to employment,
2-7 such as counseling and other services relating to mental health,
2-8 substance abuse, or family violence;
2-9 (6) participation in a community service program;
2-10 (7) vocational education training that prepares a
2-11 person for employment in an existing or emerging occupation that
2-12 does not require a baccalaureate or advanced degree;
2-13 (8) secondary and postsecondary education;
2-14 (9) training in job skills that are directly related
2-15 to employment;
2-16 (10) education leading to a high school equivalency
2-17 certificate or directly related to employment if the person does
2-18 not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency
2-19 certificate;
2-20 (11) instruction in English as a second language;
2-21 (12) the provision of child-care services to a person
2-22 participating in a community service program; and
2-23 (13) another activity described by Section 31.0125,
2-24 31.0126, or 31.0135, Human Resources Code.
2-25 (d) A person may comply with Section 31.012, Human Resources
2-26 Code, through participation in job search and job readiness
2-27 assistance activities as provided by Subsection (c)(5) for an
3-1 unlimited period, except that the commission may impose a time
3-2 limit if the person fails to comply with:
3-3 (1) a requirement imposed in connection with the
3-4 person's employability plan, including any requirement that the
3-5 person participate in an activity designed to remove a barrier to
3-6 employment and make progress toward removal of the barrier; or
3-7 (2) any other requirement generally applicable to the
3-8 person.
3-9 (e) A person may comply with Section 31.012, Human Resources
3-10 Code, through participation in vocational education training as
3-11 provided by Subsection (c)(7) for not more than one year, unless
3-12 the person demonstrates that the person is making progress, as
3-13 defined by commission rules, toward the person's employment goals.
3-14 (f) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(7), the commission may on
3-15 a case-by-case basis permit a person to comply with Section 31.012,
3-16 Human Resources Code, by completing vocational education training
3-17 designed to result in an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced
3-18 degree if the training was previously initiated by the person. The
3-19 commission may allow a period for completion of the training that
3-20 exceeds one year if the person demonstrates that the person is
3-21 making progress, as defined by commission rules, toward the
3-22 person's employment goals.
3-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately.