By Mowery, Lewis of Tarrant, Romo, Conley             H.B. No. 1675
       74R4436 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to savings accounts for AFDC recipients.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  In conjunction with the
    1-5  Texas Department of Human Services, the state treasurer shall
    1-6  establish a pilot program to create individual development accounts
    1-7  for individuals who are receiving financial assistance under
    1-8  Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, to encourage recipients to
    1-9  achieve self-sufficiency.
   1-10        (b)  The treasurer by rule may provide for:
   1-11              (1)  the number of financial assistance recipients who
   1-12  may participate in the program; and
   1-13              (2)  the maximum amount that may be saved by a
   1-14  participant.
   1-15        (c)  The treasurer shall encourage private sector employers
   1-16  to provide matching funds for employed recipients of financial
   1-17  assistance who are participating in this program.
   1-18        (d)  The treasurer shall report to the governor and the 75th
   1-19  and 76th legislatures regarding the success of the program.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATES; WAIVER.  (a)
   1-21  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-22        (b)  This Act expires September 1, 1999.
   1-23        (c)  If before implementing Section 1 of this Act, the Texas
   1-24  Department of Human Services determines that a waiver or
    2-1  authorization from a federal agency is necessary for
    2-2  implementation, the department shall request the waiver or
    2-3  authorization, and the treasurer may delay implementing that
    2-4  section until the waiver or authorization is granted.
    2-5        SECTION 3.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
    2-6  and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-7  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-8  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-9  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.