BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1602

By: Guillen

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Entities that provide adult education and literacy programs under state law have not been regulated with regard to their achievement of goals set by the state, and this has given rise to concerns about the lack of benchmarks setting specific guidance needed by these state-funded entities in achieving those goals. H.B. 1602 seeks to provide target goals to ensure the state successfully increases adult education and literacy rates by requiring the Texas Workforce Commission to establish performance criteria for entities that receive state funds for adult education and literacy and to establish a process for giving priority in awarding funds to entities that consistently meet those criteria.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1602 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission, to the extent permitted under federal law, by rule to establish the following:

·         annual performance requirements that each entity that receives money appropriated under statutory provisions relating to adult education and literacy programs must satisfy to qualify for a continuing award of those funds; and

·         a process for giving priority in awarding funds to entities that consistently satisfy the established performance requirements.

The bill requires those requirements to include the achievement of enrollment targets and performance benchmarks that are comparable to those provided by statutory provisions relating to performance incentive funding.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.