By Maxey H.B. No. 1909
75R3773 KEL-D
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 TANF families.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
1-6 is amended by adding Section 31.043 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 31.043. FILL-THE-GAP BUDGETING. (a) Subject to the
1-8 availability of funds, the department shall use a form of
1-9 fill-the-gap budgeting to extend the period of supported employment
1-10 for families who receive financial assistance under this chapter.
1-11 (b) In this section, "fill-the-gap budgeting" means a system
1-12 of budgeting in which benefits are gradually lowered using a
1-13 percentage of the difference between the standard of need and the
1-14 countable income to calculate the grant benefit.
1-15 SECTION 2. Sections 7.06(c) and (e), Chapter 655, Acts of
1-16 the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, are amended to read as
1-17 follows:
1-18 (c) The department shall report to the governor regarding
1-19 the program's success in assisting families in becoming more
1-20 self-sufficient. The department shall notify members of the [75th
1-21 and] 76th and 77th legislatures and the standing committees of the
1-22 senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
1-23 over the department of the filing of the report.
1-24 (e) This section expires September 1, 2001 [1999].
2-1 SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Human Services shall
2-2 revise the pilot program established by Section 7.06, Chapter 655,
2-3 Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as necessary
2-4 to:
2-5 (1) implement statewide the "fill-the-gap budgeting"
2-6 program prescribed by Section 31.043, Human Resources Code, as
2-7 added by this Act; and
2-8 (2) reflect the method of extending transitional
2-9 benefits to 24 months as the sole method used in the pilot program.
2-10 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-11 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.