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 may use a form of
1-11 fill-the-gap budgeting or another method under which the department
1-12 disregards earnings of family members who obtain employment while
1-13 receiving the assistance.
1-14 (b) The department may limit the percentage of earnings
1-15 disregarded, impose a time limit on how long the earnings are
1-16 disregarded, or gradually reduce the percentage of earnings
1-17 disregarded in order to remain within available funding.
1-18 (c) Funding for earnings disregards may also come from
1-19 savings associated with sanctions related to noncompliance with the
1-20 personal responsibility agreement and work requirements in this
1-21 chapter, from savings resulting from caseload declines below
1-22 projections specified in the appropriations bill, and from
1-23 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds.
1-24 (d) In this section, "fill-the-gap budgeting" means a system
2-1 of budgeting in which benefits are gradually lowered using a
2-2 percentage of the difference between the standard of need and the
2-3 countable income to calculate the grant benefit.
2-4 SECTION 2. Sections 7.06(c) and (e), Chapter 655, Acts of
2-5 the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, are amended to read as
2-6 follows:
2-7 (c) The department shall report to the governor regarding
2-8 the program's success in assisting families in becoming more
2-9 self-sufficient. The department shall notify members of the [75th
2-10 and] 76th and 77th legislatures and the standing committees of the
2-11 senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
2-12 over the department of the filing of the report.
2-13 (e) This section expires September 1, 2001 [1999].
2-14 SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Human Services shall
2-15 revise the pilot program established by Section 7.06, Chapter 655,
2-16 Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as necessary
2-17 to implement statewide the "fill-the-gap budgeting" program
2-18 prescribed by Section 31.043, Human Resources Code, as added by
2-19 this Act.
2-20 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-21 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1909 was passed by the House on May
10, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1909 on May 23, 1997, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1909 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor