By Wohlgemuth                                         H.B. No. 3419

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to time-limited benefits for recipients of financial

 1-3     assistance.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Sections 31.0065(a), Human Resources Code, are

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  The department may provide financial assistance under

 1-8     this chapter only in accordance with the time limits specified by

 1-9     this section.  The department by rule may provide for exceptions to

1-10     these time limits if severe personal hardship [or community

1-11     economic factors] prevent the recipient from obtaining employment

1-12     or if the state is unable to provide support services.

1-13           SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act

1-14     a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a

1-15     federal agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency

1-16     shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay

1-17     implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is

1-18     granted.

1-19           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-20           (b)  The changes in law made to Section 31.0065, Human

1-21     Resources Code, by this Act apply to a person receiving assistance

1-22     on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of the date

 2-1     on which eligibility for that assistance is determined.  However,

 2-2     the Texas Department of Human Services may not consider financial

 2-3     assistance provided before the effective date of this Act to a

 2-4     person excepted from the time limits prescribed by Section 31.0065

 2-5     in determining whether the person has exhausted assistance.

 2-6           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.