CHAPTER 309. SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND

LABOR CODE

TITLE 4. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT

SUBTITLE B. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION; WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT;

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

CHAPTER 309. SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND

Sec. 309.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Community-based organization" means a private nonprofit

organization that is representative of a community or a

significant segment of a community and that provides education,

vocational education or rehabilitation, job training, or

internship services or programs. The term includes a neighborhood

group or organization, community action agency, community

development corporation, union-related organization,

employer-related organization, faith-based organization, tribal

government, or organization serving Native Americans.

(2) "Fund" means the self-sufficiency fund created under Section

309.002.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 126, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1999.

Sec. 309.002. SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUND. (a) Subject to the

availability of funds, the self-sufficiency fund is created as an

account in the general revenue fund for use by public community

and technical colleges, community-based organizations, and state

extension agencies to develop for certain recipients of financial

assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, customized

job-training programs in which the recipients will be provided

job training by:

(1) an entity that develops a job-training program under this

section;

(2) a small or medium-sized business or trade union; or

(3) an informal partnership between an entity that develops a

job-training program under this section and a small or

medium-sized business network or consortium.

(b) Money from the fund may also be used for support services as

necessary for participants to prepare for and participate in

training activities and to make the transition from training

activities to employment.

(c) The commission shall administer the fund. The executive

director, or a person appointed by the executive director who is

knowledgeable in the administration of grants, is responsible for

the distribution of money from the fund.

(d) To the greatest extent practicable, money from the fund

shall be spent in all areas of the state.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 126, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1999.

Sec. 309.003. JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS. (a) A job-training

program financed by the fund:

(1) must be specifically designed to:

(A) ensure that participants meet applicable state and federal

work requirements;

(B) enable participants to find and apply for existing jobs; and

(C) include the involvement of employers who provide assistance

in setting curricula and standards for job-training programs

developed with money from the fund and are committed to hiring

graduates of the programs; and

(2) is considered a work or employment activity for purposes of

Section 31.012, Human Resources Code.

(b) An entity that receives money from the fund for a

job-training program shall work in conjunction with employers to

place graduates of the program in positions of employment in

which the graduates will be earning wages sufficient to enable

the graduates to become independent of financial assistance under

Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, and if applicable, assistance

provided under the food stamp program administered by the Texas

Department of Human Services under Chapter 33, Human Resources

Code.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 126, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1999.

Sec. 309.004. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission shall adopt

rules to implement this chapter, including rules to determine

which recipients of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human

Resources Code, are eligible to participate in job-training

programs developed with money from the fund.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 126, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1999.