BILL ANALYSIS HUMAN SERVICES C.S.H.B. 942 By: Hilderbran 4-9-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Based on the Interim Report to the 75th Texas Legislature, Committee on Human Services, H.B. 1863 directed the Department of Human Services to begin using uniform resource policies in determining eligibility for the AFDC and food stamp programs. Uniform resource guidelines would streamline eligibility policies for better understanding and quality control in eligibility determination. PURPOSE This bill restricts the Department of Human Services from providing financial assistance for a child born to a recipient of financial assistance for at least 10 months following the date of initial assistance. This does not apply to a child born to a recipient who reapplies and has not received assistance for the prior 12 consecutive months. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rule making authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1.Amends Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, by adding Sec. 31.0036, Financial Assistance for Additional Dependent Children. (a)The Department of Human Services is restricted in providing financial assistance for the support of a child until 10 months after the date on which the recipient initially received assistance if the paternity of the dependent child has not been established for the purpose of enforcing child support and if the recipient already has two or more children. (b)Section (a) does not apply to a child born to a recipient who, after not receiving assistance for 12 consecutive months, reapplies for assistance. (c)If a recipient of financial assistance has another child while receiving assistance, DHS is directed to deduct the earned income disregards allowable under federal law and increase the amount of the earned income disregard for an employed recipient by. (d)The state must continue to provide child care, support services and medical assistance under the Medicaid program for the additional child. SECTION 2.Allows DHS to postpone implementation of this act if it is determined that a federal waiver is necessary. SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1997. Applies to a child born on or after July 1, 1998. SECTION 4.Emergency Clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE Section 1.Section 31.0036(a), Human Resource Code, limits the instances in which the department may withhold financial assistance for the support of a child to ones where the paternity of the dependent child has not been established and where the recipient already has two or more children.