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