SRC-JFA H.B. 942 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 942 By: Hilderbran (Nelson) Health & Human Services 5-16-97 Committee Report (Amended) 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 the assistance if the recipient has not cooperated in establishing the paternity of the dependent child 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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Amendment 1. Page 1, lines 8-14, strikes proposed Subsection 31.0036(a), Human Resources Code, prohibiting 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; and replaces with a new proposed Subsection (a), prohibiting the 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 the assistance if the recipient has not cooperated in establishing the paternity of the dependent child for the purpose of enforcing child support and if the recipient already has two or more children.