H.B. 1020 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1020
By: Villarreal
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)




BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Employers in Texas that provide health and dependent-care benefits to
employees contribute to the state's economic health.  Making healthcare
and child care benefits affordable for working parents may eliminate their
dependence on publicly-funded services.  Historically, healthy employees
tend to be more productive than employees without health benefit coverage,
thereby contributing to the state's economic growth. The provision of
these benefits yields tax benefits to the employers, and such companies do
experience lower levels of turnover and absenteeism compared to employers
that do not offer similar benefits. House Bill 1020 requires the Work and
Family Policies Clearinghouse to encourage employers to promote dependent
care benefits to its employees.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1020 amends the Labor Code by requiring the Work and Family
Policies Clearinghouse to encourage employers to provide employee
dependent care benefits by: 

_promoting the economic benefits realized by employers who provide
dependent care benefits; 
_advertising the availability of federal and state tax incentives for
employee dependent care benefits; 
_providing technical assistance to employers for establishing employee
dependent care benefit programs; and 
_providing technical assistance and managerial support to dependent care
providers. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, if the necessary vote is received, or if the necessary vote is
not received, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.