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Solving Barriers to Employment
TEXAS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND
The
Skills Development Fund is a program designed to help Texas
public community and technical colleges and a higher education
extension agency finance customized job training for their
local businesses. The Fund will respond to the needs of
businesses, help create new jobs through business expansion or
relocation, and continue to help the creation of a competitive
and trained Texas workforce. The Legislature appropriated $25
million for fiscal 1998 and 1999.
Eligible Employer
Businesses and labor unions who form
partnerships with local community colleges and technical
schools or the higher education extension agency may apply.
They should have a training plan and jobs, which pay the
occupational wage in their local area.
For more
information, contact The Education and Workforce
Division at (915) 534-0500.
TAX CREDITS
Federal tax credits are available to employers who hire new workers from
targeted groups of job seekers. These tax credits are designed to help
move people from welfare to work.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
WOTC- is authorized by the Small Business Job Protection Act of
1996. The reauthorize WOTC is a federal income tax credit for
qualified new hires who began work between July 1, 1999 and December 31,
2001.
It was designed to encourage employers to hire target groups of job
seekers with barriers to employment. Targeted groups include:
- Qualified TANF Recipients
- High Risk and Summer Youth
- Vocational Rehabilitation Referrals.
Benefits
The maximum credit availability per eligible adult worker is $2,400.
The credit is based on 40% of up to $6,000 in wages the first year of
employment for employees who work at least 400 hours in the 1st year.
Summer Youth qualify for a 40% credit of the first $3,000 in wages
during the required working period.
Welfare to Work Tax Credit (WtW)
WtW Tax Credit- authorized through the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. It
is a federal income tax credit designed to encourage employers to heir
long-term welfare recipients.
Qualified TANF family members include:
- AFDC/TANF recipients for at least
18 consecutive months before hire date or
- TANF expired under federal or state
law after August 5, 1997 or
- Received AFDC/TANF for at least 18 months beginning after August 5, 1997.
Benefits
The WtW Tax Credit reauthorization applies to qualified new hires who
began work between July 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001. Employers of
qualified new hires that have been employed for 400 + hours or 180 days
may obtain the credit for 355 of qualified wages for the 1st year of
employment and 50% for the 2nd year. Qualified wages are capped at
$10,000 per year.
NO “DOUBLE DIPPING” ALLOWED
Some new hires qualify employers for both
the WOTC and the WtW Tax Credit. Employers may only choose one
of the tax credits each year.
Adult Bilingual Curriculum Institute, The Workforce Development & Education Division is to provide
oversight to the ABCI program/grant in the development of an integrated
adult curriculum that meets the training needs of the employer and the
language skills of the monolingual Spanish speaking client. To guide
instructor professional development ensuring effective and efficient
delivery of adult bilingual instruction. For more information please
contact The Workforce Development Division @ (915) 595-1144.
For information regarding state labor law contact the Employer Services
Unit of Texas Workforce Commission at (915) 633-6617.
For information regarding federal labor law including FMLA contact U. S. Department of
Labor at (915) 534-6426.
For information regarding discrimination issues
contact Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at (915) 832-4001.
For information regarding work-related employee injuries contact Texas
Worker's Compensation Commission at (915) 757-8081.
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