75R10713 KEL-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the methods used to extend the period of supported
1-3 employment for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy
1-4 Families.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
1-7 is amended by adding Section 31.043 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 31.043. FILL-THE-GAP BUDGETING. (a) To extend the
1-9 period of supported employment for families who receive financial
1-10 assistance under this chapter, the department, subject to the
1-11 availability of funds, shall use a form of fill-the-gap budgeting
1-12 or another method under which the department disregards earnings of
1-13 family members who obtain employment while receiving the
1-14 assistance.
1-15 (b) In this section, "fill-the-gap budgeting" means a system
1-16 of budgeting in which benefits are gradually lowered using a
1-17 percentage of the difference between the standard of need and the
1-18 countable income to calculate the grant benefit.
1-19 SECTION 2. Sections 7.06(c) and (e), Chapter 655, Acts of
1-20 the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, are amended to read as
1-21 follows:
1-22 (c) The department shall report to the governor regarding
1-23 the program's success in assisting families in becoming more
1-24 self-sufficient. The department shall notify members of the [75th
1-25 and] 76th and 77th legislatures and the standing committees of the
1-26 senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
1-27 over the department of the filing of the report.
2-1 (e) This section expires September 1, 2001 [1999].
2-2 SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Human Services shall
2-3 revise the pilot program established by Section 7.06, Chapter 655,
2-4 Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as necessary
2-5 to implement statewide the "fill-the-gap budgeting" program
2-6 prescribed by Section 31.043, Human Resources Code, as added by
2-7 this Act.
2-8 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-9 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.