HBA-KDB, SEP H.B. 230 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 230
By: Wise
Economic Development
2/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) rules, TWC is
responsible for overseeing workforce development programs that are geared
toward certain populations with a high incidence of unemployment or
underemployment.  Military veterans, who make up an important part of the
overall population of Texas, including the workforce, are not included in
the populations specifically assisted by TWC.  Upon returning from military
service, many veterans find it difficult to gain employment because
employers are reluctant to hire newly-discharged veterans who have been
away from civilian employment for so many years.  House Bill 230 requires
TWC to give priority to veterans when determining recipients of the various
workforce development training programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Workforce Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 302.010, Labor Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 230 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC) and any other provider of job training and employment
services, in accepting an applicant for job training and employment
services, to grant priority for admission to a veteran who meets the
eligibility criteria and qualifications for the specific program and who
applies for priority status.  The application for priority status must
include information or be accompanied by documentation that satisfies TWC
or the provider that the applying veteran served: 
  
 _on active duty and was discharged or released from active duty with an
honorable discharge or because of an established service-connected
disability; or 


 _as a member of a reserve component on active duty during a war or in a
campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge or ribbon is authorized
and was discharged or released from the duty with an honorable discharge. 

The bill also requires TWC to adopt rules and prescribe forms as necessary
to administer these provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.