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.