three agencies to share client data and office space

The text as introduced · 491 words

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.