|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the establishment of an employment services program to |
|
assist certain unemployed or underemployed child support obligors. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by |
|
adding Chapter 312 to read as follows: |
|
CHAPTER 312. CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGOR EMPLOYMENT |
|
SERVICES PROGRAM |
|
Sec. 312.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
(1) "Nonrecipient parent" has the meaning assigned by |
|
Section 31.0021, Human Resources Code. |
|
(2) "Obligor" has the meaning assigned by Section |
|
101.022, Family Code. |
|
(3) "Title IV-D agency" has the meaning assigned by |
|
Section 101.033, Family Code. |
|
(4) "Title IV-D case" has the meaning assigned by |
|
Section 101.034, Family Code. |
|
Sec. 312.002. PROGRAM. (a) To assist eligible child |
|
support obligors in obtaining employment to enable the obligors to |
|
satisfy their child support obligations, the commission and the |
|
Title IV-D agency jointly shall develop and administer a statewide |
|
employment services program under which the commission and the |
|
Title IV-D agency: |
|
(1) offer to each eligible obligor employment services |
|
similar to those services provided to a recipient or nonrecipient |
|
parent under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; and |
|
(2) refer eligible obligors, in appropriate cases, to |
|
local workforce development boards for skills assessment, job |
|
training, and job placement. |
|
(b) A referral to employment services under this chapter may |
|
be made in conjunction with a referral by the Title IV-D agency |
|
under Section 231.117, Family Code. |
|
Sec. 312.003. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive |
|
employment services under the program, a child support obligor must |
|
be: |
|
(1) a parent of a current or former recipient of |
|
financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or |
|
medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; and |
|
(2) unable to satisfy the obligor's child support |
|
obligation as a result of the obligor's unemployment or |
|
underemployment. |
|
Sec. 312.004. REQUIRED PARTICIPATION BY CERTAIN OBLIGORS. |
|
(a) On a determination by the Title IV-D agency that an obligor in a |
|
Title IV-D case who is eligible to participate in the program is |
|
delinquent in paying the obligor's child support obligation, the |
|
agency shall request the court exercising continuing jurisdiction |
|
with respect to the child for which support is ordered to render an |
|
order requiring the obligor to participate in the program. |
|
(b) If the court orders an obligor to participate in the |
|
program, the commission shall: |
|
(1) refer the obligor to an appropriate workforce |
|
development board for skills assessment, job training, and job |
|
placement; and |
|
(2) monitor the obligor's participation in any |
|
required program activities. |
|
(c) An obligor who fails to participate in the program as |
|
required by a court order shall be referred to the Title IV-D agency |
|
for the imposition of any penalty authorized by other law. |
|
Sec. 312.005. FUNDING. The commission may allocate for the |
|
development, implementation, and administration of the program any |
|
money available to the commission through the grant provided under |
|
Section 403, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603). |
|
Sec. 312.006. RULES. The commission, in collaboration with |
|
the Title IV-D agency, shall adopt rules as necessary for the |
|
administration of this chapter, including rules for the |
|
identification of eligible child support obligors and the referral |
|
of those obligors to the services offered under the program. |
|
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission, in collaboration with |
|
the Title IV-D agency, shall adopt rules for the administration of |
|
Chapter 312, Labor Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |