SRC-PNG S.B. 13 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 13
76R1109 CLG-DBy: Zaffirini
Human Services
4/9/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, in Texas, a consideration for determining eligibility for
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is whether income is earned.
Under the current program, recipients lose eligibility for cash and
Medicaid when starting a 20 hour per week job.  This bill allows recipients
to retain up to 90 percent of their earnings without losing TANF benefits
for the first four months of employment, thereby reducing recidivism rates
and easing their transition into work. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 13 requires the Department of Human Services to not
consider income earned by certain recipients of Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families benefits for eligibility determination purposes. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Department of Human Services in
SECTION 1 (Section 31.0038, Human Resources Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
31.0038, as follows: 

Sec.  31.0038. EARNED INCOME DISREGARDS FOR EMPLOYMENT.  Requires the Texas
Department of Human Services (DHS) to disregard, for the first four months
of employment, a significant portion of any earned income, not to exceed 90
percent,  received by an adult recipient of financial assistance who
becomes employed while receiving the assistance for the purposes of
determining certain eligibility requirements.  Grants rulemaking authority
to DHS regarding requirements for eligibility determination.  

SECTION 2. Requires DHS to request a waiver or authorization and authorizes
DHS to delay any provision of this Act if a state agency determines a
waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for
implementation. 

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.