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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to informing certain housing assistance applicants about |
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the availability of certain public assistance programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 545, Government Code, as |
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effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 545.0059 to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 545.0059. NOTIFYING CERTAIN HOUSING APPLICANTS ABOUT |
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PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing |
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and Community Affairs. |
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(2) "Housing choice voucher program" means the housing |
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choice voucher program under Section 8, United States Housing Act |
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of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Section 1437f). |
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(3) "Public assistance program" includes: |
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(A) Medicaid; |
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(B) the child health plan program; |
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(C) the financial assistance program under |
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Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; |
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(D) the nutritional assistance programs under |
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Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, including the supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program under that chapter; and |
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(E) other programs administered and identified |
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by the commission. |
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(b) The commission in collaboration with the department and |
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public housing authorities shall develop and implement a process |
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for screening applications for participation in the housing choice |
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voucher program to identify individuals, including household |
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members referenced in the application, who may be eligible for |
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benefits under a public assistance program. |
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(c) An individual who is identified as potentially eligible |
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for benefits under a public assistance program must be: |
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(1) notified of each program for which the individual |
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may be eligible; and |
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(2) provided with information on how to apply for and |
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obtain benefits under each program. |
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(d) The commission and department shall enter into a |
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memorandum of understanding to implement this section. The |
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memorandum must specify the roles and duties of each agency with |
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respect to carrying out this section. |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |