HBA-MPA S.B. 748 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 748
By: Shapleigh
Economic Development
5/5/1999
Engrossed



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.  S.B. 748 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.   (a)
Requires the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) to provide written
notice in English and in Spanish of eligibility for home ownership
counseling under12 U.S.C. Section 1701x (Assistance with Respect to Housing
for Low- and Moderate-Income Families) to each worker residing in this
state who is eligible for home ownership counseling, and who: 

(1) meets the requirements for adjustment assistance under 19 U.S.C.
Section 2331 (Establishment of Transitional Programs); or 
(2) has become or is threatened to become totally or partially seperated
from a firm certified for adjustment assistance under19 U.S.C. Section 2341
(Petitions and Determinations).   

(b) 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.   

(c) Requires a firm located in this state that has requested a
certification of eligibility for adjustment assistance to notify the
commission of that request.   

(d) Defines "firm."

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.