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By:  Zaffirini                                                            S.B. No. 68



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing postemployment strategies for certain 
recipients of financial assistance to achieve self-sufficiency.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is 
amended  by adding Section 302.0025 to read as follows:
	Sec. 302.0025.  EMPLOYMENT PLAN AND POSTEMPLOYMENT 
STRATEGIES. (a)  The commission shall ensure that an individual 
employment plan developed for a recipient of financial assistance 
participating in an employment program under Chapter 31, Human 
Resources Code, includes specific postemployment strategies to 
assist the recipient in making a transition to stable employment at 
a wage that enables the recipient and the recipient's family to 
maintain self-sufficiency.
	(b)  The individual employment plan must:                               
		(1)  consider a recipient's individual circumstances 
and needs in determining the recipient's initial job placement and 
direct the recipient to a job that, as appropriate, offers:
			(A)  on-the-job training and opportunities for 
advancement; and     
			(B)  a work schedule that provides adequate time 
for the recipient to pursue educational and training opportunities 
outside of the recipient's employment;
		(2)  identify a target wage that enables the recipient 
and the recipient's family to maintain self-sufficiency;
		(3)  provide specific postemployment goals and include 
methods and time frames by which the recipient is to achieve those 
goals; and
		(4)  refer the recipient to additional educational and 
training opportunities.
	SECTION 2.  Section 302.010(a), Labor Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	(a)  The commission by rule shall develop guidelines under 
which local workforce development boards provide postemployment 
services to a recipient of financial assistance participating in an 
employment program under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code. The 
guidelines must require local workforce development boards to 
develop strategies for improving a recipient's potential for job 
retention and wage advancement as a component of the postemployment 
services.
	SECTION 3.  If before implementing any provision of this Act 
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a 
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, 
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or 
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the 
waiver or authorization is granted.
	SECTION 4.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.