Texas Workforce Commission approves FY2026 disability purchasing fees, BET report, childcare target carryover and several local board nominees

The Texas Workforce Commission on Oct. 25 approved four staff recommendations affecting procurement for people with disabilities, food services in state facilities, childcare performance measures and local workforce board memberships.

The commission approved: unchanged central nonprofit agency management fee rates and the method of calculation for the Purchasing from People with Disabilities program for state fiscal year 2026; the Business Enterprises of Texas (BET) customer satisfaction and cost analysis report for submission to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board; continuation of the board contract year 2025 initial job search success rate performance measure targets for board contract year 2026; and local workforce development board member nominees for Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent, Coastal Bend, Panhandle and South Plains.

The fee-rate item was presented by Juan Garcia of the Vocational Rehabilitation Division. Garcia said the rules require annual approval: "Section 0806.31 of the Texas Administrative Code requires a commission to approve the fees along with the method of calculation on a yearly basis." He told the commission the proposed fees "have not changed from previous years" and that the rates were posted for a 60-day public comment period with no recommended changes based on those comments. Staff recommended approval, and the motion was moved, seconded and carried.

Cynthia Gonzalez, director of Business Enterprises of Texas, asked the commission to approve the agency's customer satisfaction and cost analysis report for submission to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board pursuant to Rider 38 as part of TWC performance reporting for the 2024–25 biennium. Gonzalez said the survey was conducted in May 2025 and noted an 8% decrease in responses from the prior administration cycle. She summarized survey findings: "83% of respondents agreed that operation hours are conducted to their daily schedule. 81% agreed that facilities make available a wide variety of food and beverage choices. 78% agreed that healthy choices are readily available." Gonzalez also told commissioners that over 80% of respondents rated food quality, service quality and atmosphere at BET facilities at three stars or better. The commission approved staff's request and permission to make non-substantive formatting corrections to the final report.

Jennifer Kohlhauer of the Information, Innovation and Insight Division and Jeffrey Miller, director of analytics and evaluation in I3, presented the proposed performance measure action for childcare initial job search success-rate targets. Kohlhauer said I3 recommended continuing the existing board contract year 2025 targets for board contract year 2026 "for continuity purposes" while staff continue to establish baseline performance for workforce boards under the new measure. Commissioner Spada asked clarifying questions about the measure's 90-day initial job search period and how exits (for example, a family moving or a child aging out) would affect the measure. Kohlhauer and Reagan Miller, who also addressed commissioners, explained that the rule design keeps families in their 12-month eligibility period even if a child turns 13 during that period: "if a child turns 13 during their 12 month eligibility period, they stay in the program until their next redetermination." Commissioners voted to continue the BCY 2025 targets for BCY 2026 as recommended by staff.

Patricia Martinez of the Workforce Development Division presented nominations for local workforce board membership in four workforce areas: Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent, Coastal Bend, Panhandle and South Plains. Martinez said staff recommended approval of the nominees. The commission approved the presented nominees.

Votes at a glance: The transcript records that each motion was moved, seconded and the motion "carries." The transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies or named yes/no votes for these motions; vote counts are not specified in the meeting record provided.

What changes and next steps: The Purchasing from People with Disabilities fee schedule and calculation method will apply for state fiscal year 2026 as approved. The BET report will be submitted to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board with staff allowed to make non-substantive formatting corrections. The childcare initial job search success rate targets will remain at BCY 2025 levels through BCY 2026 while I3 continues baseline analysis. Local workforce board nominees were approved and will proceed through whatever appointment or onboarding procedures those local boards follow.

The commission adjourned after the approvals and nominations.