By Zaffirini                                           S.B. No. 160
         77R539 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to incentive programs and employment services to benefit
 1-3     certain recipients of financial assistance.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Sections 302.009, 302.010, and 302.011 to read as
 1-7     follows:
 1-8           Sec. 302.009.  JOB PLACEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM. (a)  The
 1-9     commission by rule shall develop a job placement incentive program
1-10     under which persons with whom local workforce development boards
1-11     contract for employment services under Chapter 2308, Government
1-12     Code, are provided incentives for placing recipients of financial
1-13     assistance participating in employment programs under Chapter 31,
1-14     Human Resources Code, in higher-wage jobs, as determined by the
1-15     commission.
1-16           (b)  In developing guidelines for the job placement incentive
1-17     program, the commission shall:
1-18                 (1)  define measures for higher-wage jobs based on
1-19     locally appropriate indicators of the wages necessary to lift
1-20     recipients of employment services out of poverty and into
1-21     self-sufficiency; and
1-22                 (2)  involve representatives of local workforce
1-23     development boards in developing guidelines for the program and the
1-24     measures for higher-wage jobs.
 2-1           (c)  The commission shall administer the job placement
 2-2     incentive program through the local workforce development boards.
 2-3           Sec. 302.010.  POSTEMPLOYMENT SERVICES GUIDELINES. (a)  The
 2-4     commission by rule shall develop guidelines under which local
 2-5     workforce development boards provide postemployment services to a
 2-6     recipient of financial assistance participating in an employment
 2-7     program under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code.
 2-8           (b)  In developing the guidelines, the commission  must
 2-9     consider the difficulties the recipient is likely to encounter in
2-10     acquiring additional education and training after becoming
2-11     employed.
2-12           (c)  The commission shall assist local workforce development
2-13     boards in meeting the guidelines by providing information about
2-14     model programs and best practices, including employer involvement
2-15     in past employment services.
2-16           (d)  The commission shall involve representatives of local
2-17     workforce development boards and other appropriate organizations in
2-18     developing the guidelines and identifying model programs and best
2-19     practices.
2-20           Sec. 302.011.  POSTEMPLOYMENT CASE MANAGEMENT. The commission
2-21     shall encourage local workforce development boards to provide
2-22     postemployment case management services for recipients of financial
2-23     assistance who participate in employment programs under Chapter 31,
2-24     Human Resources Code, and  have, in comparison to other recipients,
2-25     higher levels of barriers to employment.
2-26           SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2002, the Texas
2-27     Workforce Commission shall develop the job placement incentive
 3-1     program required by Section 302.009, Labor Code, as added by this
 3-2     Act, and the postemployment services guidelines required by Section
 3-3     302.010, Labor Code, as added by this Act.
 3-4           SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act a
 3-5     state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
 3-6     federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
 3-7     the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
 3-8     authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
 3-9     waiver or authorization is granted.
3-10           SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.