Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
77 th Texas Legislature
Employment History Tracking of Former Recipients of Assistance - H.B. 1243
by Representatives Villarreal and Naishtat
Senate Sponsor: Senator Van de Putte
The Texas Workforce Commission currently tracks the short-term employment history of former recipients
of assistance under its employment programs for a up of 12 months after they have left the program.
Requires the employment history tracking of former program recipients to continue for a minimum of three
years, and provides measures for assessing recipients’ abilities to achieve certain achievements and goals.
Establishment of a Child-Care Resource and Referral Network - H.B. 1307
by Representative Villarreal
Senate Sponsor: Senator Moncrief
The 76th Legislature funded the creation of a statewide network of child care resource and referral
agencies. Since the 76th legislative session, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded funds
to the Texas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to provide child care data to policy
makers, education about early child care and education options to parents, and assistance to employers
who want to provide child care benefits to their employees.
Establishes a statutory requirement that TWC contract with a child-care resource and referral network to
provide child-care resource and referral services in this state.
Texas Workforce Commission and Liens Against Employers - H.B. 2028
by Representative Yarbrough
Senate Sponsor: Senator Van de Putte
If a business files bankruptcy or goes out of business owing wages to its employees, the priority for lost
wages is generally low. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) assists, at some cost, employees with
claims to recover lost wages, frequently having to file in district courts to obtain these wages.
Provides that a lien established by TWC against an employer indebted to the state for penalties or wages is
superior to any other lien on the same property, including a lien for ad valorem taxes.
Indian Tribes and Unemployment Benefits - H.B. 2029
by Representatives Chavez and Yarbrough
Senate Sponsor: Senator Shapleigh
Federal and state unemployment insurance laws relating to Indian tribes prior to January 1, 1995, treated
them as political subdivisions for purposes of electing their reimbursement status for unemployment
benefits. In 1995, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) notified the Texas Workforce Commission
(TWC) that this classification of Indian tribal councils was not in compliance with DOL regulations, and
TWC changed the tribes’ status accordingly. The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2001 (Act), made
amendments affecting current federal and state unemployment insurance laws retroactive to December 21,
2000. The Act returned the tribes to the status held prior to 1995.
Senate Research Center 324