Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5395 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Ordaz H.B. No. 5395
	2	+
	3	+
2	4
3	5
4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the establishment of the Cross-Agency Employment
7	9		Resource Initiative to coordinate and optimize certain employment
8	10		services and resources in this state.
9	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	12		SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 10, Government Code, is
11	13		amended by adding Chapter 2308B to read as follows:
12	14		CHAPTER 2308B. CROSS-AGENCY EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE INITIATIVE
13	15		Sec. 2308B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
14	16		(1) "Client" means an individual who:
15	17		(A) receives services from the workforce
16	18		commission;
17	19		(B) is a recipient of financial assistance under
18	20		Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or supplemental nutrition
19	21		assistance under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; or
20	22		(C) receives reentry and reintegration services
21	23		from the department.
22	24		(2) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
23	25		Commission.
24	26		(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of
25	27		Criminal Justice.
26	28		(4) "Initiative" means the Cross-Agency Employment
27	29		Resource Initiative.
28	30		(5) "Workforce commission" means the Texas Workforce
29	31		Commission.
30	32		Sec. 2308B.002. PURPOSE. The Cross-Agency Employment
31	33		Resource Initiative is established to coordinate and optimize
32	34		services, information, and other resources as necessary to:
33	35		(1) align services provided to clients of programs
34	36		administered by the workforce commission who also use programs
35	37		administered by the commission or the department, or both;
36	38		(2) provide those clients with timely and accurate
37	39		information necessary to meet program requirements;
38	40		(3) enable the agencies to maximize and leverage
39	41		resources, including client data and agency office space, to
40	42		effectively and efficiently serve clients using multiple programs
41	43		across the agencies; and
42	44		(4) share individual agency goals and performance
43	45		measures, specifically those attributed to gainful employment,
44	46		employment retention, recidivism, and other workforce development
45	47		goals, and enable state and local policy makers to collaboratively
46	48		implement or modify policy and regulations to effect those goals.
47	49		Sec. 2308B.003. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS. The commission,
48	50		department, and workforce commission shall enter into one or more
49	51		interagency agreements establishing policies and processes for:
50	52		(1) sharing relevant client data and agency
51	53		information; and
52	54		(2) sharing agency office space and other resources as
53	55		necessary to effectuate the purposes of the initiative.
54	56		Sec. 2308B.004. QUARTERLY DISCUSSIONS. The executive
55	57		commissioner of the commission, the chair of the Texas Board of
56	58		Criminal Justice, and the chair of the workforce commission shall
57	59		discuss the work of the initiative at least once per quarter.
58	60		Sec. 2308B.005. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) The
59	61		commission, department, and workforce commission may accept gifts,
60	62		grants, and donations from any public or private source for
61	63		purposes of the initiative.
62	64		(b) The commission, department, and workforce commission
63	65		shall investigate potential sources of funding from federal grants
64	66		or programs that may be used for purposes of the initiative.
65	67		SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the executive
66	68		commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the chair
67	69		of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, and the chair of the Texas
68	70		Workforce Commission shall hold the initial discussion required
69	71		under Section 2308B.004, Government Code, as added by this Act.
70	72		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.