BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 770

By: Hughes

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The job-training programs provided under the self-sufficiency fund are currently available only to individuals who are TANF recipients. It has been suggested that this is too restrictive and denies valuable job training opportunities to individuals who are similarly situated to TANF recipients economically but are not themselves recipients. S.B. 770 seeks to make these job‑training programs more widely available, thus resulting in a workforce that is higher skilled and more job ready and potentially decreasing future reliance on programs like TANF, by extending eligibility for these programs to any individuals the Texas Workforce Commission identifies as being low-income or at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance benefits.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 3 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 770 amends the Labor Code to expand the eligibility for job-training programs provided under the self-sufficiency fund from certain TANF recipients to any individuals who are identified by rule of the Texas Workforce Commission as being low-income or at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance benefits.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.