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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to powers and duties of the Texas Workforce Commission |
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with respect to work and family policies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 81.001, 81.003, 81.0045, 81.0046, |
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81.005, 81.007, and 81.008, Labor Code, are amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 81.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) ["Clearinghouse" means the Work and Family |
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Policies Clearinghouse. |
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[(2)] "Commission" means the Texas Workforce |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Work and family policies" means family-related |
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employment policies, including: |
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(A) hiring and scheduling practices; |
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(B) employee benefits; |
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(C) dependent care assistance; and |
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(D) other terms of employment related to family. |
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Sec. 81.003. WORK AND FAMILY POLICIES RESOURCES |
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[CLEARINGHOUSE]. The [Work and Family Policies Clearinghouse is |
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within the] commission shall maintain on its Internet website |
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information and resources for employers who are considering, |
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selecting, or implementing work and family policies, together with |
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an explanation that: |
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(1) the commission does not and may not provide legal |
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advice; and |
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(2) an employer is not required by law to implement a |
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work and family policy included on the commission's website. |
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Sec. 81.0045. DEPENDENT CARE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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commission [clearinghouse] may establish a grant program to provide |
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funds to public or private persons to conduct demonstration |
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dependent care projects. |
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(b) The commission [clearinghouse] shall adopt rules |
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governing the submission and approval of grant requests and the |
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cancellation of grants. |
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(c) To receive a grant, a person whose grant is approved |
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must execute an interagency agreement or a contract with the |
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commission [clearinghouse]. The contract must require the person |
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receiving the grant to perform the services as stated in the |
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approved grant request. The contract must contain appropriate |
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provisions for program and fiscal monitoring. |
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Sec. 81.0046. PROMOTION OF WORK AND FAMILY POLICIES |
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[EMPLOYEE DEPENDENT CARE BENEFITS]. In providing [technical |
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assistance and] information and resources under this chapter, the |
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commission may [clearinghouse shall] encourage employers to |
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implement work and family policies [provide employee dependent care |
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benefits] by: |
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(1) providing examples of work and family policies or |
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providing economic data that demonstrates [promoting] the economic |
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benefits realized by employers who implement work and family |
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policies [provide dependent care benefits], including decreased |
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absenteeism and turnover rates, greater productivity, and federal |
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and state tax incentives; |
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(2) advertising the availability of federal and state |
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tax incentives for work and family policies [employee dependent |
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care benefits]; and |
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(3) sharing other relevant information and resources |
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provided to the commission voluntarily by employers, employees, and |
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other stakeholders [providing technical assistance to employers |
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who establish employee dependent care benefit programs, including |
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assistance in obtaining federal and state tax incentives]. |
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Sec. 81.005. SHARING [DEPOSIT OF] MATERIALS ON WORK AND |
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FAMILY POLICIES. The commission may share materials [Materials] on |
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work and [employment-related] family policies [issues] that are |
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published by state agencies with [may be deposited with the |
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clearinghouse for distribution to] employers, job applicants, and |
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other interested persons. |
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Sec. 81.007. RULES. The commission [by rule] may adopt |
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rules to implement this chapter [procedures to implement functions |
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under Sections 81.004 and 81.005. In adopting rules under this |
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section, the commission shall consider the recommendations of the |
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clearinghouse staff]. |
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Sec. 81.008. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) The |
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commission [clearinghouse] may accept a gift or grant from a public |
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or private entity to fund any activity under this chapter. |
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(b) The commission may accept a donation of money, services, |
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or property only if the commission determines that the donation |
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furthers the lawful purposes and objectives of the commission under |
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this chapter and the donation is accepted in an open meeting by a |
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majority of the voting members of the commission. The donation must |
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be reported in the public records of the commission with the name of |
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the donor and the purpose of the donation. This subsection does not |
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apply to information and resources voluntarily shared with the |
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commission under Section 81.0046. |
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SECTION 2. Section 81.004, Labor Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |