The Health and Human Services Commission must coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission on certain child care, TANF employment, and nutrition employment services for referred individuals and families.
Sec. 31.0127. COORDINATION OF SERVICES TO CERTAIN CLIENTS. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission for the provision of child care services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families employment programs, and supplemental nutrition assistance program employment and training services to an individual or family who has been referred for programs and services by the Health and Human Services Commission. The purpose of this section is to accomplish the following: (1) increase the self-sufficiency of recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and improve the delivery of services to those recipients; and (2) improve the effectiveness of job-training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) or a successor program in obtaining employment for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance. (b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall require the Texas Workforce Commission to comply with the revised provisions derived from Chapter 531, Government Code, as that chapter existed on March 31, 2025, solely for: (1) the promulgation of rules relating to the programs described by Subsection (a); (2) the expenditure of funds relating to the programs described by Subsection (a), within the limitations established by and subject to the General Appropriations Act and federal and other law applicable to the use of the funds; (3) data collection and reporting relating to the programs described by Subsection (a); and (4) evaluation of services relating to the programs described by Subsection (a). (c) The Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly develop and adopt a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding must: (1) outline measures to be taken to increase the number of individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance who are using job-training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.), or a successor program; and (2) identify specific measures to improve the delivery of services to clients served by programs described by Subsection (a). (d) Not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Health and Human Services Commission shall provide a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives that: (1) evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of client services in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; (2) evaluates the status of the coordination among agencies and compliance with this section; (3) recommends measures to increase self-sufficiency of recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance and to improve the delivery of services to these recipients; and (4) evaluates the effectiveness of job-training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) or a successor program in obtaining employment outcomes for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance. (e) Subsection (b) does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to require a state agency, other than a health and human services agency, to comply with revised provisions derived from Chapter 531, Government Code, as that chapter existed on March 31, 2025, except as specifically provided by Subsection (b). The authority granted under Subsection (b) does not affect Section 301.041, Labor Code. (f) If the change in law made by this section with regard to any program or service conflicts with federal law or would have the effect of invalidating a waiver granted under federal law, the state agency is not required to comply with this section with regard to that program or service. (g) This section does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to change the allocation or disbursement of funds allocated to the state under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) in a manner that would result in the loss of exemption status. (h) This section does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to transfer programs to or from the commission and another agency serving clients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program administered under Chapter 33 without explicit legislative authorization. (i) The executive commissioner may not promulgate rules relating to eligibility for the program services described by Subsection (a) and the Texas Workforce Commission may not promulgate rules in accordance with Subsection (b)(1) without holding a public hearing. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1460, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.059, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 2.75, eff. April 1, 2025.