HBA-MPA C.S.H.B. 2915 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2915 By: Pitts Economic Development 4/20/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1995, the Texas legislature established the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) and the system of local workforce development boards (boards) across the state. The commission provides assistance to the boards. In some areas of the state vendors are not available to provide the information technology services required by the boards. Some boards, primarily in rural areas, are interested in additional assistance from the commission for maintenance of information technology systems. C.S.H.B. 2915 allows the commission to enter into contracts or service level agreements with a local workforce development board for technology assistance and support services beyond the level provided to all boards and charge a fee based on service level options. 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 Section 302.002, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (f), to authorize the executive director of the division of workforce development (executive director) of the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) to enter into contracts with local workforce development boards or other entities to establish service level agreements for technology assistance and support. Authorizes the executive director to charge fees for services based on service level options selected by those entities. Authorizes all fees collected under this section to be used by the commission only for the purpose of paying costs incurred in providing those services. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 2915 differs from the original bill in SECTION 1 (proposed Section 302.002(f), Labor Code) by specifying that service level agreements between boards and the commission are for technology assistance and support. The substitute clarifies that the executive director is authorized to charge fees for these services. The substitute also authorizes, rather than requires, the commission to use all fees collected only to pay costs incurred in providing those services.