HBA-MPM H.B. 1006 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1006 By: Naishtat Human Services 7/9/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature passed welfare reform. When Congress passed federal welfare reform regulations the next year, Texas was allowed to take advantage of a waiver option authorizing a delay in implementing some federal provisions. This waiver expires in March 2002, and there are some advisable conforming changes to state law in anticipation of that expiration. House Bill 1006 sets forth exemptions from work requirements for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and directs the Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Workforce Commission, and local workforce development boards to develop a plan to provide employment outreach services to those exempted. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1006 amends the Human Resources Code to exempt certain recipients of financial assistance from the work requirements of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and specifies the persons to whom work requirements do not apply. The bill requires DHS, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and local workforce development boards to develop plans for providing outreach services to assist a person who is exempt from work requirements in becoming self-supporting. The bill provides that outreach services provided under the plans must include making support services available and providing referrals to appropriate services, including those provided by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, or community organizations. The bill sets forth additional good cause criteria in addition to any other criteria DHS establishes that provides for an exception or partial exception from work or employment activities. H.B. 1006 requires each local workforce development board to assess current resources available to provide services to persons exempt from work requirements, develop a plan for providing the services, and provide TWC with information regarding additional resources needed to fully implement the plans developed under the provisions of this bill regarding the provision of services to the persons addressed by those plans. The bill requires TWC no later than December 1, 2003 to report to the legislature regarding information and recommendations submitted by the local workforce development boards and TWC's evaluation of the information and recommendations. EFFECTIVE DATE Vetoed.