BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 212

                                                                                                                                      By: Shapleigh

                                                                                        Veterans Affairs and Military Installations

                                                                                                                                                2/15/05

Enrolled

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas has long held an important role in the stability and success of national defense efforts and is home to an array of defense installations, defense dependent communities, and defense industries.  Texas' 18 major military installations comprise 11 percent of the nation's military forces.  Over 190,000 members of the various military branches are currently stationed in Texas.

Along with those 190,000 military personnel, there are thousands of military spouses, dependents and family members in Texas.  As service members are transferred to Texas installations, families from around the country and abroad are uprooted and working dependents are forced to leave their employment and find work in Texas.  This employment transition is difficult and stressful. 

With the upcoming Department of Defense base realignment and closure (BRAC) round, several of Texas' defense installations can expect to gain even more missions and troops.  Several of Texas' defense communities can expect an influx of military spouses and dependents, many of whom will be looking for employment.  Texas must work to create a better support system for these unemployed workers.  Helping newly transferred dependents quickly find employment in Texas will help military families make a smoother transition into the state.

S.B. 212 directs the Texas Workforce Commission to create programs in Texas' defense dependent communities to support military families by providing employment assistance services to the spouses and dependents of military personnel who are assigned to duty in Texas. 

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, by adding Section 302.0034, as follows:

Sec. 302.0034.  EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL.  (a)  Requires the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) to provide employment assistance services to the spouses and dependents of military personnel who are assigned to duty in this state.

(b)  Requires the commission to provide the aforementioned services in cooperation with the local workforce development boards in areas of the state having a defense community.

(c)  Authorizes the commission to accept and apply for certain monies from public and private sources to fund the commission's duties under this section.  Authorizes the commission to use money from job training funds and other money appropriated by the legislature to implement the requirements of this section.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2005.