BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.C.R. 26
	By: Hughes
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	7/6/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current federal law restricts the consolidation of federally funded social services with workforce development programs. Utah is the only state in the country allowed to consolidate workforce and social services since its previously existing, consolidated program is "grandfathered." Every other state, including Texas, is forced to service the needs of qualified applicants for social services through separate programs.

These separately run programs are more costly and inefficient. If social service programs in Texas were consolidated, they would be more effective, cost efficient, and have the ability to service individuals with a single case manager. Trigger legislation is needed to prepare for the implementation of consolidated programs when federal law allows.

S.B. 2315 creates a taskforce to develop a consolidation plan for applicable state and local agencies and services to be ready when the federal law or guidance allows the consolidation of safety net programs in Texas.

S.C.R. 26 urges Congress to amend federal law to allow states to provide for the consolidation of federally funded workforce development services with federally funded social safety net services.

The State of Texas desires to provide the most streamlined and consolidated customer service for those seeking work, unemployment benefits, or social security safety net services.

The United States Department of Labor and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) currently restrict the consolidation of federally funded employment and job training services with other federally funded services such as safety net services.

In Texas, federally funded employment services and workforce development services are provided by local workforce development boards and the Texas Workforce Commission, and federally funded social services are provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Texans seeking assistance with employment and job training services, as well as social safety net services, are forced to seek such services at more than one location of state and local government agencies, with little to no consolidation or coordination of such services.

The State of Texas desires to develop a consolidation plan for the delivery of workforce development and social services to its citizens in order to provide a broader and more streamlined delivery of services to those seeking such services.

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RESOLVED

That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to amend federal law to allow states to provide for the consolidation of federally funded workforce development services with federally funded social safety net services.

That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.