Summary of the 1999 Legislative Session

With sunset review of the Texas Workforce Commission scheduled for 2003 and implementation of the federal Workforce Development Act (WIA) in progress, the 1999 Texas Legislature did not make major changes to the Texas workforce system. The legislation that did pass dealt with education/job training issues, the membership of local workforce development boards, workforce exemptions for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grants, subsidized child care for TANF recipients and low-income families, and the education of child-care workers.

Interim committee charges

Senate Committee on Economic Development

• Study trends relating to the availability of private sector business financing in an effort to find ways to promote entrepreneurship, job creation and economic development in Texas. The Committee shall make recommendations to facilitate access to private sector business capital.

Senate Committee on State Affairs

• Study the impact of devolution and other federal streamlining and efficiency efforts on major state agencies, including full-time equivalent employee (FTE) increases, major programmatic changes, and administrative costs to the state. The Committee shall also study conflicts and overlaps among agencies resulting from federally devolved functions and responsibilities. The Committee shall coordinate study of this issue with the Committee on Finance. The final preparation of the report will be the responsibility of the State Affairs Committee.

Special Committee on Border Affairs

• Develop economic development strategies for the Border Region to increase economic opportunity and the earning capacity of its residents through higher wage jobs. The strategies should assess the Region's post-NAFTA workforce training needs, as well as identify potential emerging industry clusters in the Border Region and the workforce requirements to support those industry clusters.

Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations

• Assess the effectiveness of state benefits currently available to veterans and make recommendations to improve their delivery. The Committee shall consider, but is not limited to: veterans workforce and job search assistance; state agency compliance with veterans preference laws; and the state's educational assistance for veterans, especially any need to modify Section 54.203 of the Education Code (the Hazelwood Act).