SRC-LBB H.B. 1020 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1020
78R2252 JMM-DBy: Villarreal (Zaffirini)
Business & Commerce
5/18/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Making dependent care benefits affordable for working parents  may
eliminate their dependence on publicly-funded services.  The provision of
these benefits yields tax benefits to the employers, and such companies
experience lower levels of turnover and absenteeism compared to employers
that do not offer similar benefits. H.B. 1020 requires the Work and Family
Policies Clearinghouse to encourage employers to provide dependent care
benefits to their employees.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 81, Labor Code, by adding Section 81.0046, as
follows: 

Sec. 81.0046.  PROMOTION OF EMPLOYEE DEPENDENT CARE BENEFITS. Requires the
Work and Family Policies Clearinghouse, in providing technical assistance
and information under this chapter, to encourage employers to provide
employee dependent care benefits by: 

(1)  promoting the economic benefits realized by employers who provide
dependent care benefits, including decreased absenteeism and turnover
rates, greater productivity, and federal and state tax incentives; 
(2)  advertising the availability of federal and state tax incentives for
employee dependent care benefits; 
(3)  providing technical assistance to employers who establish employee
dependent care benefit programs, including assistance in obtaining federal
and state tax incentives;  and 
(4)  providing technical assistance and managerial support to dependent
care providers, including mentoring, establishing cooperatives to pool
resources for employee benefits, and assisting with human resources and
payroll functions. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.