The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Business Partner--An individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or association.

(2) Community-based organization (CBO)--A private nonprofit organization that is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community and that provides education, vocational education or rehabilitation, job training, or internship services or programs. The term includes a neighborhood group or corporation, union-related organization, employer-related organization, faith-based organization, tribal government, or organization serving Native Americans. The CBO must be certified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the IRS Code of 1986, as amended. A CBO providing services, which are regulated by the state, must provide evidence of required certification, license, or registration.

(3) Executive director--The executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission.

(4) Grant recipient--A public community or technical college, CBO, or state extension service awarded a grant from the Self-Sufficiency Fund.

(5) Individual at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance--An individual who is a member of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits household with dependent children, a youth up to the age of 24 who is a part of a low-income family, or a parent, including a noncustodial parent, whose income does not exceed the income limit established by the Commission. To establish the income limit, the Commission will consider the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and SNAP income limits, and other relevant data, including economic indicators such as the state unemployment rate and inflation. The Commission may periodically review the income limit established and may update the level as necessary to reflect changes in the economic conditions in the state and the factors used to establish the income limit.

(6) Low-income--An individual whose family: (A) receives any one of the following benefits: (i) TANF; (ii) SNAP; (iii) Children's Health Insurance Program; or (iv) income-based subsidized child care through the Child Care and Development Fund; (B) is eligible for or receives subsidized public housing assistance; (C) participates in: (i) the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program; or (ii) free or reduced-cost school lunch based on income; (D) is eligible for, or enrolled in, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act youth services; or (E) income does not exceed the income limit established by the Commission. To establish the income limit, the Commission will consider the TANF and SNAP income limits, and other relevant data, including economic indicators such as the state unemployment rate and inflation. The Commission may periodically review the income limit established and may update the level as necessary to reflect changes in the economic conditions in the state and the factors used to establish the income limit.

(7) Participant--An individual who meets the eligibility criteria to engage in the Self-Sufficiency Fund's training program by being either low-income, at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance, or a youth up to the age of 24 who is a part of a low-income family.

(8) Public community college--A state-funded two-year educational institution primarily serving its local taxing district and service area in Texas and offering vocational, technical, and academic courses for certification or associate degrees.

(9) Public technical college--A state-funded coeducational institution of higher education offering courses of study in vocational and technical education, for certification or associate degrees.

(10) Self-Sufficiency--Employment with wages reasonably calculated to make the employee independent of financial assistance under Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 31.

(11) State extension service--An education service that provides technical and vocational training and is sponsored by a higher education agency regulated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(12) TANF recipient--An individual who receives financial assistance under Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 31.

(13) Trade union--An organization, agency, or employee committee, in which employees participate and which exists for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, pay rates, employment hours, or work conditions.

(14) Training provider--Any public community or technical college, CBO, or state extension service that provides training; or any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, consortium, governmental subdivision, or public or private organization with whom a public community or technical college, CBO, or state extension service has subcontracted to provide training.

Source Note: The provisions of this §835.2 adopted to be effective January 7, 2003, 28 TexReg 357; amended to be effective September 29, 2003, 28 TexReg 8385; amended to be effective September 12, 2022, 47 TexReg 5499