Bill Text: TX HB333 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to establishing a Texas Service Corps to provide student loan relief, job training, and work experience, in exchange for providing community service in underserved areas.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-25 - Referred to International Relations & Economic Development [HB333 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB333-Introduced.html

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By: Talarico H.B. No. 333

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a Texas Service Corps to provide student
loan relief, job training, and work experience, in exchange for
providing community service in underserved areas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 318 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 318. TEXAS SERVICE CORPS
Sec.318.001 ESTABLISHING A TEXAS SERVICE CORPS. (a) It is
hereby established a Texas Service Corps, administered by the Texas
Workforce Commission. The Service Corps shall provide interested
applicants with service opportunities deemed most likely to further
an applicant's stated educational and professional interests. The
services to be provided include, but are not limited to:
(i) green jobs in service of activities or industries that
contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental
quality;
(ii) health services by applicants with the necessary
qualifications to provide medical, dental, psychological, or other
related services as deemed appropriate by Service Corps
administration;
(iii) services that benefit the developmental and
educational needs of early childhood; and
(iv) services that provide exposure to, and participation
in, the Arts or Humanities.
(b) Individuals who complete a term of service, shall be
eligible for an education grant to be used for either tuition costs
at eligible Texas institutions of higher learning or student loan
repayment.
(c) Funding for the education grant shall be comprised of
any federal dollars allocated for implementing community service
programs, with necessary additional funding allocated through
Texas budgetary procedures.
(d) The Texas Service Corps shall, in consultation with
administrative agencies deemed relevant and necessary by the Texas
Legislature, have the following powers and duties:
(i) to recruit and select Service Corps professionals for
service in eligible institutions, facilities, or professions;
(ii) to place Service Corps professionals in eligible
institutions and facilities pursuant to agreements with the
appropriate eligible institutions and facilities;
(iii) to develop criteria for the selection of applicants
for placement under this program including, but not limited to, the
individual's academic achievement, previous work experience in the
relevant industry or related services, a demonstrated interest in
working with vulnerable populations or providing community
service;
(iv) to accept and expend any grants, awards or other funds
or appropriations as may be available to effectuate the purposes of
this Act subject to the limitations as to the approval of
expenditures and audit as prescribed for state funds by STATE
finance law; and
(v) to do any and all other things necessary to carry out its
functions, powers and duties and to effectuate the purposes of this
Act.
(e) The nature and extent of a proposed service project
shall be submitted in writing to the appropriate delegated
oversight entity prior to expending any public funds.
SECTION 2. 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, 2021.