Sec. 413.025. RETURN-TO-WORK GOALS AND ASSISTANCE

(a) The division shall assist recipients of income benefits to return to the workforce. The division shall develop improved data sharing, within the standards of federal privacy requirements, with all appropriate state agencies and workforce programs to inform the division of changes needed to assist income benefit recipients to successfully reenter the workforce.

(b) The division shall train staff dealing with income benefits to respond to questions and assist injured employees in their effort to return to the workforce. If the division determines that an injured employee is unable to ever return to the workforce, the division shall inform the employee of possible eligibility for other forms of benefits, such as social security disability income benefits.

(c) As necessary to implement the requirements of this section, the division shall:

(1) attempt to remove any barriers to successful employment that are identified at the division, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and private vocational rehabilitation programs;

(2) ensure that data is tracked among the division, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and insurance carriers, including outcome data;

(3) establish a mechanism to refer income benefit recipients to the Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development centers for employment opportunities; and

(4) develop a mechanism to promote employment success that includes post-referral contacts by the division with income benefit recipients.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 , Sec. 3.244, eff. September 1, 2005.