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.