BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 257

By: Hernandez

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the growing population of service personnel returning to Texas and seeking employment in the civilian workforce necessitates a means to effectively connect employers with servicemembers who possess relevant occupational experience. H.B. 257 seeks to address this need by requiring the Texas Workforce Commission to develop an annual report that, among other things, identifies the five most common occupation specialties of veterans and servicemembers transitioning to civilian employment.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 257 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), in consultation with the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services and not later than September 1 of each year, to submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and chairs of the appropriate legislative committees a report that identifies the five most common military occupational specialties of servicemembers who are transitioning from military service to employment, identifies the five occupations for which such military occupational specialties best offer transferable skills that meet the needs of employers, identifies any industry-based certifications that align with such military occupational specialties, and includes any other data or other information identified by the TWC in administering the college credit for heroes program as useful for supporting the transition of servicemembers and veterans into the identified occupations. The bill requires the TWC to submit an initial report not later than September 1, 2018.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.