85R3213 JG-D
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 455
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the operations of the Employment-First Task Force.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 531.02448(b), (f), (g), and (j),
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  If the executive commissioner establishes a task force
  for the purposes described by Subsection (a), the executive
  commissioner shall determine the number of members on the task
  force.  The executive commissioner shall appoint at least the
  following as members, subject to Subsection (e):
               (1)  an individual with a disability;
               (2)  a family member of an individual with a
  disability;
               (3)  three representatives [a representative] of the
  commission, one of whom represents the commission's assistive and
  rehabilitative services functions and one of whom represents the
  commission's aging and disability services functions;
               (4)  [a representative of the Department of Assistive
  and Rehabilitative Services;
               [(5)]  a representative of the Department of State
  Health Services;
               (5) [(6)     a representative of the Department of Aging
  and Disability Services;
               [(7)]  a representative of the Department of Family and
  Protective Services;
               (6) [(8)]  a representative of the Texas Workforce
  Commission;
               (7) [(9)]  a representative of the Texas Education
  Agency;
               (8) [(10)]  an advocate for individuals with
  disabilities;
               (9) [(11)]  a representative of a provider of
  integrated and competitive employment services; and
               (10) [(12)]  an employer or a representative of an
  employer in an industry in which individuals with disabilities
  might be employed.
         (f)  A task force established under this section or an
  existing committee or task force used for purposes of this section
  shall:
               (1)  design an education and outreach process targeted
  at working-age individuals with disabilities, including young
  adults with disabilities, the families of those individuals, the
  state agencies listed in Subsection (b), and service providers,
  that is aimed at raising expectations of the success of individuals
  with disabilities in integrated, individualized, and competitive
  employment;
               (2)  develop recommendations for policy, procedure,
  and rules changes that are necessary to allow the employment-first
  policy described under Section 531.02447(b) to be fully implemented
  and to provide guidance and assistance to a state agency in
  implementing those changes;
               (2-a)  meet at least quarterly and at other times at the
  call of the presiding officer; and
               (3)  not later than September 1 of each even-numbered
  year, prepare and submit to the office of the governor, the
  legislature, and the executive commissioner a report regarding the
  task force's findings and recommendations, including:
                     (A)  information that reflects the potential and
  actual impact of the employment-first policy on the employment
  outcomes for individuals with disabilities; and
                     (B)  recommendations for improvement of
  employment services and outcomes, including employment rates, for
  individuals with disabilities based on the reported impact of an
  employment-first policy under Paragraph (A) that may include:
                           (i)  recommendations relating to using any
  savings to the state resulting from the implementation of the
  employment-first policy to further improve the services and
  outcomes; and
                           (ii)  recommendations developed under
  Subdivision (2) regarding necessary policy, procedure, and rules
  changes.
         (g)  A member of a task force established under this section
  is not entitled to compensation.  Members may be reimbursed for
  expenses as follows:
               (1)  a member described by Subsection (b)(1) or (2) is
  entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses
  as provided in the General Appropriations Act;
               (2)  a member appointed as a representative of a state
  agency is eligible for reimbursement for travel and other necessary
  expenses according to the applicable agency's policies; and
               (3)  a member described by Subsection (b)(8) [(b)(10)],
  (9) [(11)], or (10) [(12)] is entitled to reimbursement for travel
  and other necessary expenses to be paid equally out of available
  money appropriated to the commission and to health and human
  services agencies.
         (j)  A task force established under this section is abolished
  and this [This] section expires September 1, 2021 [2017].
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect August 31, 2017.