By Naishtat H.B. No. 3428 75R7556 KKA-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to financial assistance for victims of domestic violence. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, 1-5 is amended by adding Section 31.0321 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 31.0321. VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. (a) The 1-7 department by rule shall adopt procedures to: 1-8 (1) identify individuals applying for or receiving 1-9 financial assistance who are victims of domestic violence, while 1-10 maintaining confidentiality; and 1-11 (2) on a case-by-case basis after a determination of 1-12 good cause, waive eligibility requirements, including requirements 1-13 relating to time limits, child support enforcement, paternity 1-14 establishment, work activity, and residency, for an individual 1-15 identified under Subdivision (1) if application of the requirements 1-16 would: 1-17 (A) make it more difficult for the individual to 1-18 escape domestic violence; or 1-19 (B) unfairly penalize the individual. 1-20 (b) The department may not deny an individual access to 1-21 education, training, employment, or other services because the 1-22 individual is a victim of domestic violence. 1-23 (c) In developing procedures under this section, the 1-24 department shall seek comments from the Texas Workforce Commission, 2-1 the office of the attorney general, and at least one statewide 2-2 advocacy group for victims of domestic violence. 2-3 (d) In this section, "domestic violence" has the meaning 2-4 assigned by 42 U.S.C. Section 602(a)(7)(B). 2-5 SECTION 2. If, before implementing any provision of this 2-6 Act, the Texas Department of Human Services or other state agency 2-7 determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is 2-8 necessary for implementation, the department or other state agency 2-9 shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay 2-10 implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is 2-11 granted. 2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-17 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-18 passage, and it is so enacted.