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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a memorandum of understanding between the Health and |
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Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice to assess the eligibility of certain inmates for |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits on discharge or |
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release from confinement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.0181 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0181. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING |
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ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN INMATES. (a) In this |
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section, "inmate" means an individual confined in a facility |
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operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice. |
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(b) The commission and the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for the |
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purpose of ensuring that an inmate who is likely to be eligible for |
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supplemental nutrition assistance benefits on discharge or release |
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on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon is assessed |
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by the commission for eligibility for those benefits before the |
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inmate's discharge or release. |
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(c) The memorandum of understanding required by this |
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section must: |
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(1) establish a procedure through which the commission |
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shall accept and process supplemental nutrition assistance program |
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applications from inmates; and |
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(2) define the roles and responsibilities of each |
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agency under the memorandum. |
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(d) The memorandum of understanding required by Subsection |
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(b) must be tailored to achieve the goal of ensuring that an inmate |
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described by Subsection (b) who is determined eligible by the |
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commission for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits |
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may begin receiving services under the program at the time of the |
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inmate's discharge or release on parole, mandatory supervision, or |
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conditional pardon. |
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(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission and Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall enter into the memorandum of |
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understanding required by Section 33.0181, Human Resources Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |