Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

      By Naishtat                                     H.B. No. 3528

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the education and work activities of Temporary

 1-3     Assistance for Needy Families recipients who are teen parents under

 1-4     the age of 21 or who have only school-aged children.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 31.0031(d), Human Resources Code, is

 1-7     amended to read as follows:

 1-8           (d)  The responsibility agreement shall require that:

 1-9                 (1)  the parent of a dependent child cooperate with the

1-10     department and the title and to establish or enforce child support;

1-11                 (2)  if adequate and accessible providers of the

1-12     services are available in the geographic area and subject to the

1-13     availability of funds, each dependent child, as appropriate,

1-14     complete early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment

1-15     checkups on schedule and receive the immunization series prescribed

1-16     by Section 161.004, Health and Safety Code, unless the child is

1-17     exempt under that section;

1-18                 (3)  each adult recipient, or teen parent recipient who

1-19     has completed the requirements regarding school attendance in

1-20     Subdivision (6), not voluntarily terminate paid employment of at

1-21     least 30 hours each week without good cause in accordance with

1-22     rules adopted by the department;

1-23                 (4)  each adult recipient for whom a needs assessment

1-24     is conducted or who has only school-aged children participate in an

 2-1     activity to enable that person to become self-sufficient by:

 2-2                       (A)  continuing the person's education or

 2-3     becoming literate;

 2-4                       (B)  entering a job placement or employment

 2-5     skills training program;

 2-6                       (C)  serving as a volunteer in the person's

 2-7     community; or

 2-8                       (D)  serving in a community work program or other

 2-9     work program approved by the department;

2-10                 (5)  each care taker relative or parent receiving

2-11     assistance not use, sell or possess marihuana or a controlled

2-12     substance in violation of Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or

2-13     abuse alcohol;

2-14                 (6)  each dependent child younger than 18 years of age

2-15     or teen parent younger than [19] 21 years of age attend school

2-16     regularly, unless the child has a high school diploma or high

2-17     school equivalency certificate or is specifically exempted from

2-18     school attendance under Section 21.033, Education Code;

2-19                 (7)  each recipient comply with department rules

2-20     regarding proof of school attendance; and

2-21                 (8)  each recipient attend parenting skills training

2-22     classes as determined by the needs assessment.

2-23           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-24           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-25     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-26     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-27     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-28     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.