1-1     By:  Zaffirini                                         S.B. No. 909

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 4, 1997; March 6, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services;

 1-4     March 19, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 11,

 1-5     Nays 0; March 19, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-7                                   AN ACT

 1-8     relating to certain electronic benefits transfer accounts that are

 1-9     inactive.

1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,

1-12     is amended by adding Section 31.043 to read as follows:

1-13           Sec. 31.043.  INACTIVE ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER ACCOUNT.

1-14     (a)  This section applies only to an account to which financial

1-15     assistance provided under this chapter has been transferred under

1-16     the electronic benefits transfer system for access and use by a

1-17     recipient of that assistance.

1-18           (b)  The department shall close an account that has not been

1-19     used by the account holder during the preceding 12 months.

1-20           (c)  The comptroller shall withdraw any unused benefits

1-21     remaining in the account and disburse the benefits as authorized by

1-22     federal and state law.

1-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-25     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-26     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-27     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-28     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-29     passage, and it is so enacted.

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