TO:	Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB116 by Minjarez (Relating to the eligibility of and receipt by certain relative caretakers of dependent children of supplemental financial assistance and the assignment of those relative caretakers as protective payees for financial assistance payments; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced

The bill would expand eligibility for one-time cash assistance payments to include aunts, uncles, or siblings over the age of 25 who are caretakers of a dependent child and who meet certain financial qualifications and would permit such individuals to be name protective payee to receive and manage assistance payments. The bill would also direct the Health and Human Services Commission to (HHSC) to exclude certain resources in determining eligibility for supplemental financial assistance. It is assumed the number of new recipients would be small and any cost to implement the provisions of the bill can be absorbed within available resources.

Local Government Impact

The offenses created by the bill would be Class A, B, C misdemeanors. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. In addition to the fine, punishment can include up to 180 days of deferred disposition. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.

According to the Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal impact to counties is anticipated.