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.