Sec. 31.0121.  SKILLS ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS AND CERTAIN NONRECIPIENT PARENTS.  (a)  The Texas Workforce Commission shall ensure that each local workforce development board assesses the skills development needs of recipients and of nonrecipient parents referred to the CHOICES program administered by the board.
(b)  If, after assessing the skills development needs of a recipient or a nonrecipient parent, a local workforce development board determines that the recipient or the nonrecipient parent requires job-specific training for placement in a job paying wages that equal or exceed the self-sufficiency wage developed for the board under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.), as amended, the board shall:
(1)  to the extent allowed by federal law, place the recipient or the nonrecipient parent in training activities designed to improve employment and wage outcomes and job retention rates; and
(2)  ensure that the training activities under Subdivision (1) target occupations that are in demand by local employers.
(c)  A local workforce development board may use a single list of targeted occupations that is developed for other training programs for purposes of meeting the requirements of Subsection (b)(2).
(d)  A recipient or a nonrecipient parent participating in the CHOICES program who is placed in training activities under Subsection (b) may concurrently engage in those training activities and in work activities.
(e)  To meet the requirements of this section, the Texas Workforce Commission shall use CHOICES program funds and, to the extent possible, existing funds from other training programs for which a recipient or a nonrecipient parent participating in the CHOICES program may qualify, including funds from:
(1)  other training programs provided under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.), as amended, or their successor programs;
(2)  the skills development fund created under Chapter 303, Labor Code; or
(3)  the self-sufficiency fund created under Section 309.002, Labor Code.
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 817, Sec. 4.04, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1300 (S.B. 589), Sec. 4, eff. June 15, 2007.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1300 (S.B. 589), Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2007.