HB5395 - Relating to the establishment of the Cross-Agency Employment Resource Initiative to coordinate and optimize certain employment services and resources in this state.

      By: Ordaz H.B. No. 5395       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Cross-Agency Employment   Resource Initiative to coordinate and optimize certain employment   services and resources in this state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle G, Title 10, Government Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 2308B to read as follows:   CHAPTER 2308B. CROSS-AGENCY EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE INITIATIVE           Sec. 2308B.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)  "Client" means an individual who:                       (A)     receives services from the workforce   commission;                       (B)     is a recipient of financial assistance under   Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or supplemental nutrition   assistance under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; or                       (C)     receives reentry and reintegration services   from the department.                 (2)     "Commission" means the Health and Human Services   Commission.                 (3)     "Department" means the Texas Department of   Criminal Justice.                 (4)     "Initiative" means the Cross-Agency Employment   Resource Initiative.                 (5)     "Workforce commission" means the Texas Workforce   Commission.           Sec.   2308B.002.     PURPOSE. The Cross-Agency Employment   Resource Initiative is established to coordinate and optimize   services, information, and other resources as necessary to:                 (1)     align services provided to clients of programs   administered by the workforce commission who also use programs   administered by the commission or the department, or both;                 (2)     provide those clients with timely and accurate   information necessary to meet program requirements;                 (3)     enable the agencies to maximize and leverage   resources, including client data and agency office space, to   effectively and efficiently serve clients using multiple programs   across the agencies; and                 (4)     share individual agency goals and performance   measures, specifically those attributed to gainful employment,   employment retention, recidivism, and other workforce development   goals, and enable state and local policy makers to collaboratively   implement or modify policy and regulations to effect those goals.           Sec.   2308B.003.     INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS. The commission,   department, and workforce commission shall enter into one or more   interagency agreements establishing policies and processes for:                 (1)     sharing relevant client data and agency   information; and                 (2)     sharing agency office space and other resources as   necessary to effectuate the purposes of the initiative.           Sec.   2308B.004.     QUARTERLY DISCUSSIONS. The executive   commissioner of the commission, the chair of the Texas Board of   Criminal Justice, and the chair of the workforce commission shall   discuss the work of the initiative at least once per quarter.           Sec.   2308B.005.     GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) The   commission, department, and workforce commission may accept gifts,   grants, and donations from any public or private source for   purposes of the initiative.           (b)     The commission, department, and workforce commission   shall investigate potential sources of funding from federal grants   or programs that may be used for purposes of the initiative.          SECTION 2.  Not later than October 1, 2025, the executive   commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the chair   of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, and the chair of the Texas   Workforce Commission shall hold the initial discussion required   under Section 2308B.004, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.