By: Blanco S.B. No. 2607
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Cross-Agency Employment
Resource Initiative to coordinate and optimize certain employment
services and resources in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 10, Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2308B to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2308B. CROSS-AGENCY EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE INITIATIVE
Sec. 2308B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Client" means an individual who:
(A) receives services from the workforce
commission;
(B) is a recipient of financial assistance under
Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or supplemental nutrition
assistance under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; or
(C) receives reentry and reintegration services
from the department.
(2) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
(4) "Initiative" means the Cross-Agency Employment
Resource Initiative.
(5) "Workforce commission" means the Texas Workforce
Commission.
Sec. 2308B.002. PURPOSE. The Cross-Agency Employment
Resource Initiative is established to coordinate and optimize
services, information, and other resources as necessary to:
(1) align services provided to clients of programs
administered by the workforce commission who also use programs
administered by the commission or the department, or both;
(2) provide those clients with timely and accurate
information necessary to meet program requirements;
(3) enable the agencies to maximize and leverage
resources, including client data and agency office space, to
effectively and efficiently serve clients using multiple programs
across the agencies; and
(4) share individual agency goals and performance
measures, specifically those attributed to gainful employment,
employment retention, recidivism, and other workforce development
goals, and enable state and local policy makers to collaboratively
implement or modify policy and regulations to effect those goals.
Sec. 2308B.003. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS. The commission,
department, and workforce commission shall enter into one or more
interagency agreements establishing policies and processes for:
(1) sharing relevant client data and agency
information; and
(2) sharing agency office space and other resources as
necessary to effectuate the purposes of the initiative.
Sec. 2308B.004. QUARTERLY DISCUSSIONS. The executive
commissioner of the commission, the chair of the Texas Board of
Criminal Justice, and the chair of the workforce commission shall
discuss the work of the initiative at least once per quarter.
Sec. 2308B.005. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) The
commission, department, and workforce commission may accept gifts,
grants, and donations from any public or private source for
purposes of the initiative.
(b) The commission, department, and workforce commission
shall investigate potential sources of funding from federal grants
or programs that may be used for purposes of the initiative.
SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the chair
of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, and the chair of the Texas
Workforce Commission shall hold the initial discussion required
under Section 2308B.004, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.