HBA-SEP H.B. 2673 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2673 By: Villarreal, Mike Economic Development 4/6/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Federal law requires a state that receives child care and development block grant funds for a fiscal year to set aside not less than 4 percent of the funds for activities that are designed to provide comprehensive consumer education to parents and the general public, activities that increase parental choice, and activities designed to improve the quality and availability of child care such as resource and referral services. However, there is little accounting for the majority of allocated funds because it is spent by local workforce development boards rather than at the state level. House Bill 2673 requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to collect and assess state and local information relating to the workforce development services provided in this state with emphasis on money spent by local workforce development boards on quality programs. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 2673 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to collect state and local information relating to the workforce development services provided in this state, to assess the information, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the services, with particular emphasis on the extent to which local workforce development boards (boards) are spending allocated money on quality programs. TWC is also required, in performing these duties, to report to the legislature and other interested persons on local programs and services that show promise in expanding access to quality early education. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.