HBA-TYH H.B. 3427 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3427
By: Najera
Economic Development
4/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

An increase in the closing of companies in El Paso due to the North
American Free Trade Agreement and the Trade Reduction Act has left
displaced workers facing mortgage defaults and rental evictions.  Timely
emergency assistance to avoid foreclosure or eviction can prevent an
increase in the number of homeless in certain areas where social service
agencies are already unable to meet the existing demand.  H.B. 3427
requires the Texas Workforce Commission to provide written notice of
eligibility for home ownership counseling to each worker who is elibigle. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends the chapter heading to Chapter 304, Labor Code, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 304.  New heading: COUNSELING
FOR DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS OR WORKERS

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 304, Labor Code, by adding Section 304.005, as
follows: 
 
Sec. 304.005.  HOME OWNERSHIP COUNSELING FOR DISPLACED WORKERS.  Requires
the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) to provide written notice in
English and in Spanish of eligibility for home ownership counseling under
federal law to each worker residing in this state who is eligible for home
ownership counseling and who meets the enumerated requirements.  Provides
that the notice must contain a list of home ownership counseling
organizations that perform the enumerated actions, or any toll-free
telephone number through which the worker can obtain the list.  Requires a
firm located in this state that has requested a certification of
eligibility for adjustment assistance to notify the commission of that
request.  Defines "firm." 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.