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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to allowing certain inmates to apply for supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program benefits to be provided at the time of |
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discharge or release. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.0167 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.0167. NOTICE TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
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COMMISSION REGARDING SNAP BENEFITS. (a) At least 45 days but not |
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more than 60 days before an inmate is discharged or released on |
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parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the |
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department shall notify the Health and Human Services Commission of |
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the inmate's upcoming discharge or release for purposes of applying |
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for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits as provided |
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by Section 33.0181, Human Resources Code. |
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(b) The notice provided under Subsection (a) must include |
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the date that the inmate will be discharged or released. |
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(c) The department shall coordinate with the Health and |
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Human Services Commission to determine: |
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(1) the method to be used by the department to provide |
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the notice required under Subsection (a); and |
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(2) the time, place, and manner for providing |
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application assistance and conducting the eligibility interview |
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described by Section 33.0181(b)(2), Human Resources Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 33.015(b), Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) For purposes of rules under Subsection (a)(2), a |
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hardship includes a situation in which a person is prevented from |
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personally appearing at commission offices because the person is: |
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(1) subject to a work or training schedule; |
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(2) subject to transportation difficulties; |
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(3) subject to other difficulties arising from the |
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person's residency in a rural area; |
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(4) subject to prolonged severe weather; |
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(5) ill; [or] |
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(6) needed to care for a member of the person's |
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household; or |
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(7) confined as an inmate in a facility operated by or |
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under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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SECTION 3. 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. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN INMATES |
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NEARING ELIGIBILITY FOR DISCHARGE OR RELEASE; TIMING OF BENEFITS. |
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(a) Subject to Section 33.018, the commission, in cooperation with |
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the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, shall establish a |
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procedure to accept and process supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program applications submitted by inmates who are confined in a |
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facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice for purposes of providing program benefits to the |
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inmates at the time of discharge or release. |
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(b) The commission shall as soon as practicable but not |
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later than the 30th day after the date the commission receives: |
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(1) a notice from the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice under Section 501.0167, Government Code, of the upcoming |
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discharge or release of an inmate: |
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(A) assist the inmate in filling out forms and |
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completing the application process; and |
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(B) coordinate with the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice to, in accordance with Section 33.015, conduct the |
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initial interview by telephone instead of through a personal |
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appearance; and |
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(2) a completed application for supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program benefits for an inmate, make a |
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determination regarding the inmate's eligibility for benefits at |
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the time of discharge or release. |
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(c) If the commission determines that an inmate is eligible |
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for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, the |
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commission shall begin providing benefits to the inmate at the time |
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of discharge or release. |
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(d) The commission may contract with community partners to |
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provide the application assistance required by this section. |
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(e) The executive commissioner, in consultation with the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice, shall adopt rules to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 4. 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 5. 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. |