SRC-JFA H.B. 942 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 942
By: Hilderbran (Nelson)
Health & Human Services
5-15-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Based on the Interim Report to the 75th Texas Legislature, Committee on
Human Services, H.B. 1863 directed the Texas Department of Human Services
to begin using uniform resource policies in determining eligibility for
Aid to Families with Dependent Children and food stamp programs. Uniform
resource guidelines would streamline eligibility policies for better
understanding and quality control in eligibility determination.  This
legislation prohibits the Texas Department of Human Services from
providing such financial assistance for a child born to a recipient at
least 10 months after the recipient began receiving the assistance; and
establishes the child care, medical assistance, and other support services
still available to latter-born dependent children.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 942 prohibits the Texas Department of Human Services
from providing financial assistance for a child born to a recipient at
least 10 months after the recipient began receiving the assistance; and
establishes the child care, medical assistance, and other support services
still available to latter-born dependent children. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 31A, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
31.0036, as follows: 

Sec. 31.0036.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ADDITIONAL DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
Prohibits the Texas Department of Human Services (department) from
providing financial assistance under this chapter for the support of a
child born to a recipient of the assistance at least 10 months after the
date on which the recipient initially began receiving 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. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to a child born to
a recipient who reapplies for financial assistance after not receiving the
assistance for the 12 consecutive months preceding the date of the
reapplication.  Set forth the terms by which the department is required,
if an adult recipient of financial assistance becomes the parent of
another child while the recipient is receiving assistance, to compute the
amount of the family's financial assistance.  Establishes the terms by
which the state is required to provide child care, medical assistance
under the state Medicaid program, and other support services to the
latter-born child. 

SECTION 2. Sets forth the terms by which the department is required to
request a waiver for implementation of Section 31.0036, Health and Safety
Code, and is authorized to delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 3. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.  Provides that this Act
applies to a child born on or after July 1, 1998, to a recipient of
financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, who, on
behalf of another child born to the recipient, receives the assistance on
or after the effective  date of this Act, regardless of the date on which
eligibility for that assistance was determined. 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.