By Moncrief, et al.                             S.B. No. 1148

      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.