By Zaffirini                                      S.B. No. 59

      75R817 CLG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to time-limited benefits for certain AFDC recipients.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 31.0065, Human Resources Code, is amended

 1-5     by amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (g) to read as

 1-6     follows:

 1-7           (f)  If the department is imposing time-limited benefits on

 1-8     an individual, the department shall consider:

 1-9                 (1)  the in-depth assessment of the individual's need

1-10     that was conducted by the department, which assessment may include

1-11     an evaluation of the individual's [provided that if the needs

1-12     assessment indicates discrepancies between a client's self-reported

1-13     educational level and the client's functional abilities, the time

1-14     limits shall be based upon the] functional educational level; and

1-15                 (2)  the prevailing economic and employment conditions

1-16     in the area of the state where the individual resides.

1-17           (g)  If the in-depth assessment of the individual's need

1-18     indicates that the individual needs extensive employment

1-19     preparation, the department shall set the time limits consistent

1-20     with the time limits prescribed by Subsection (b) for a person who

1-21     has an educational level in the category, if any, immediately below

1-22     the individual's actual self-reported educational level.

1-23           SECTION 2.  If before implementing a provision of Section

1-24     31.0065, Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act, a state

 2-1     agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal

 2-2     agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency shall

 2-3     request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that

 2-4     provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

 2-5           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

 2-6     applies only to a person who receives financial assistance under

 2-7     Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on or after that date and for

 2-8     whom time limits have not been imposed before that date, regardless

 2-9     of the date on which eligibility for that assistance was

2-10     determined.

2-11           SECTION 4.  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.