By Tillery H.B. No. 503 76R3200 CLG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the consideration of income earned by certain 1-3 recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits for 1-4 eligibility determination purposes. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, 1-7 is amended by adding Section 31.0038 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 31.0038. EARNED INCOME DISREGARDS FOR EMPLOYMENT. (a) 1-9 If an adult recipient of financial assistance becomes employed 1-10 while receiving the assistance, the department may not consider a 1-11 significant portion of any earned income received by the recipient 1-12 during the first six months of employment for purposes of 1-13 determining: 1-14 (1) the amount of financial assistance granted to an 1-15 individual for the support of dependent children; or 1-16 (2) whether the family meets household income and 1-17 resource requirements for financial assistance. 1-18 (b) In adopting rules under this section, the department 1-19 shall: 1-20 (1) prescribe the portion of a recipient's income, not 1-21 to exceed 90 percent, that the department may not consider; 1-22 (2) ensure that this section applies only to 1-23 recipients who earn income in an amount that does not exceed the 1-24 maximum gross income limit set by the department under Section 2-1 31.003; and 2-2 (3) consider in determining the amount to be 2-3 disregarded under Subsection (a) the total amount the department 2-4 estimates to be available to provide financial assistance to 2-5 eligible recipients. 2-6 SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act, 2-7 a state agency determines that a waiver or other authorization 2-8 from a federal agency is necessary for implementation, the 2-9 department 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 change in law made by Section 31.0038, Human 2-13 Resources Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a person who 2-14 receives financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources 2-15 Code, on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of the 2-16 date on which eligibility for the financial assistance was 2-17 determined. 2-18 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-19 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 2-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.