Bill Text: TX HB120 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Comm Sub

Texas House Bill 120 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an employment services program to assist certain unemployed or underemployed child support obligors.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-27 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB120 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB120-Comm_Sub.html

	82R7648 KSD-D

	By: Castro	H.B. No. 120

	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 120:

	By: Jackson	C.S.H.B. No. 120



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of an employment services program to
	assist certain unemployed or underemployed child support obligors.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
	adding Chapter 313 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 313. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN CHILD SUPPORT
	OBLIGORS
	Sec. 313.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1) "Nonrecipient parent" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 31.0021, Human Resources Code.
	(2) "Obligor" has the meaning assigned by Section
	101.022, Family Code.
	(3) "Title IV-D agency" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 101.033, Family Code.
	(4) "Title IV-D case" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 101.034, Family Code.
	Sec. 313.002. PROGRAM. (a) The commission and the Title
	IV-D agency jointly shall develop and administer an employment
	services program to provide eligible child support obligors with
	assistance in obtaining employment so that the obligors may satisfy
	their child support obligations. The program shall:
	(1) provide an eligible obligor employment services
	similar to those services provided to a recipient or nonrecipient
	parent under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; and
	(2) direct eligible obligors, in appropriate cases, to
	local workforce development boards for skills assessment, job
	training, job placement, and job monitoring.
	(b) A referral of an eligible obligor to employment services
	under this chapter may be made in conjunction with a referral by the
	Title IV-D agency under Section 231.117, Family Code.
	Sec. 313.003. ELIGIBILITY. The commission, in
	collaboration with the Title IV-D agency, by rule shall prescribe
	criteria for determining a child support obligor's eligibility to
	participate in the program. The criteria must include the
	requirement that a child support obligor be unemployed or
	underemployed.
	Sec. 313.004. REQUIRED PARTICIPATION BY CERTAIN OBLIGORS.
	(a) On a determination by the Title IV-D agency that an obligor in a
	Title IV-D case who is eligible to participate in the program is
	delinquent in paying a child support obligation, the agency may
	request a court of competent jurisdiction to render an order
	requiring the obligor to participate in the program. In making
	requests under this subsection, the Title IV-D agency shall give
	priority to making requests in regard to obligors who are the parent
	of a current or former recipient of financial assistance under
	Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or medical assistance under
	Chapter 32, Human Resources Code.
	(b) If the court orders an obligor to participate in the
	program, the commission shall:
	(1) direct the obligor to an appropriate workforce
	development board for skills assessment, job training, job
	placement, and job monitoring; and
	(2) monitor the obligor's participation in any
	required program activities.
	(c) An obligor who fails to participate in the program as
	required by a court order shall be reported to the Title IV-D agency
	for the imposition of any penalty authorized by law.
	Sec. 313.005. FUNDING. The commission may allocate for the
	development, implementation, and administration of the program any
	money available to the commission through the grant provided under
	Section 403, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 603), and may
	use any other federal or state funds available for that purpose.
	Sec. 313.006. RULES. The commission, in collaboration with
	the Title IV-D agency, shall adopt rules as necessary for the
	administration of this chapter, including rules:
	(1) for directing eligible child support obligors to
	the employment services provided by the program; and
	(2) prescribing the job monitoring and reporting
	requirements under the program.
	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission, in collaboration with
	the Title IV-D agency, shall adopt rules for the administration of
	Chapter 313, Labor Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2011.