By Zaffirini                                     S.B. No. 909

      75R3452 CLG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain electronic benefits transfer accounts that are

 1-3     inactive.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,

 1-6     is amended by adding Section 31.043 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 31.043.  INACTIVE ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER ACCOUNT.

 1-8     (a)  This section applies only to an account to which financial

 1-9     assistance provided under this chapter has been transferred under

1-10     the electronic benefits transfer system for access and use by a

1-11     recipient of that assistance.

1-12           (b)  The department shall close an account that has not been

1-13     used by the account holder during the preceding 12 months.

1-14           (c)  The comptroller shall withdraw any unused benefits

1-15     remaining in the account and disburse the benefits as authorized by

1-16     federal and state law.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.