HBA-NLM H.B. 2017 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2017
By: Christian
Human Services
10/5/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In implementing the federal "Charitable Choice" provision of the Personal
Responsibility  and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996, and the Welfare to
Work reform in Texas, various legislators and state agencies  have
attempted to identify churches and other faith-based organizations that
attempt to help people in need and assist them in gaining independence from
governmental assistance programs.   

The purpose of this bill is to enhance communication and cooperation
between the Texas Department of Human Services (department) and faith-based
organizations.  H.B. 2017 requires the Commissioner of Human Services
(commissioner) to designate one department employee in each of the
department's administrative regions to serve as a liaison to faith-based
organizations in the region with the potential ability to provide community
services for the needy.  This bill also includes charitable organizations
and religious organizations as entities among which a local workforce
development board is required to promote cooperation and coordination in a
manner consistent with federal statutory nondiscrimination principles and
safeguards.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 21, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
21.0061, as follows: 

Sec. 21.0061. LIAISONS TO FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.  (a)  Requires the
Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to designate one Texas
Department of Human Services (department) employee in each of the
department's administrative regions to serve as a liaison to faith-based
organizations in the region with the potential ability to provide community
services for the needy. 

(b)  Requires the commissioner to ensure that the primary function of each
employee designated as a liaison under this section is to: 

_communicate with faith-based organizations regarding the need for private
community services to benefit persons in need of assistance who would
otherwise require financial or other assistance under public programs
administered by the department; 

_promote the involvement of the faith-based organizations in working to
meet community needs for assistance; and 

_coordinate the department's effort to promote involvement of faith-based
organizations in providing community services with similar efforts of other
state agencies. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 2308.303(a), Government Code, to include
charitable organizations and religious organizations as entities among
which a local workforce development board is required  to promote
cooperation and coordination in a manner consistent with federal statutory
nondiscrimination principles and safeguards.  

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.