SRC-SLL H.B. 1909 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 1909
By: Maxey (Truan)
Health & Human Services
5-18-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

The 74th Legislature created a pilot program implementing fill-the-gap
budgeting for certain families.  Fill-the-gap budgeting is a system of
budgeting in which benefits are gradually lowered using a percentage of
the difference between the standard of need and the countable income to
calculate the grand benefit.  Through the use of fill-the-gap budgeting,
the individual is no longer penalized for finding employment by being
immediately cut off from public assistance programs. This bill will
provide regulations regarding methods used to extend the period of
supported employment for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1909 provide regulations regarding methods used to
extend the period of supported employment for recipients of Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families. 

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 31B, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
31.043, as follows: 

Sec.  31.043.  FILL-THE-GAP BUDGETING.  Authorizes the Texas Department of
Human Services (department) to use a form of fill-the-gap budgeting or
another method under which the department disregards earnings of family
members who obtain employment while receiving the assistance to extend the
period of supported employment for families who receive financial
assistance under this chapter.  Defines "fill-the-gap budgeting." 

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 7.06(c) and (e), Chapter 655, Acts of the 74th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, to require the department to notify
members of the 76th and 77th, rather than 75th and 76th, legislatures of
the filing of the report.  Provides that this section expires September 1,
2001, rather 1999. 

SECTION 3. Requires the department to revise the pilot program established
by Section 7.06, Chapter 655, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1995, as necessary to implement statewide the "fill-the-gap
budgeting" program prescribed by Section 31.043, Human Resources Code, as
added by this Act. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.





SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

 Amendment 1.

(1) On page 1, lines 10 and 11, strike "subject to the availability of
funds, shall" and substitute "may". 

(2) On page 1, lines 14 and 15, insert the following and redesignate the
subsequent subsections: 

(b) The department may limit the percentage of earnings disregarded,
impose a time limit on how long the earnings are disregarded or gradually
reduce the percentage of earnings disregarded in order to remain within
available funding. 

(c) Funding for earnings disregards may also come from savings associated
with sanctions related to noncompliance with the personal responsibility
agreement and work requirements in this chapter, from savings resulting
from caseload declines below projections specified in the Appropriations
bill, and from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds.