By Ellis S.B. No. 239
76R3488 KKA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to assistance for certain persons in obtaining benefits
1-3 under certain federal social security programs.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 29.015 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 29.015. ELIGIBILITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.
1-8 (a) A school district may enter into a contract under which the
1-9 contractor:
1-10 (1) assists the district in identifying students
1-11 enrolled in special education programs in the district who may be
1-12 eligible for federal benefits under the supplemental security
1-13 income program (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.), as amended; and
1-14 (2) assists potentially eligible students in applying
1-15 for and establishing eligibility under that program.
1-16 (b) A school district may exercise the authority granted by
1-17 this section by entering into a new contract or by participating in
1-18 an existing contract between a state agency and a contractor under
1-19 which similar services are provided to the state.
1-20 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
1-21 amended by adding Section 264.113 to read as follows:
1-22 Sec. 264.113. ELIGIBILITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.
1-23 (a) The department shall enter into a contract under which the
1-24 contractor assists a child receiving foster care under this
2-1 chapter in applying for and establishing eligibility under the
2-2 supplemental security income program (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et
2-3 seq.), as amended, if the child:
2-4 (1) is at least 17 years of age;
2-5 (2) has not previously applied for benefits under that
2-6 program; and
2-7 (3) according to the contractor's evaluation, would
2-8 likely be eligible under that program if foster care payments from
2-9 another funding source were not being made on behalf of the child.
2-10 (b) In accordance with the contract, the contractor shall:
2-11 (1) take all steps necessary to assist the child in
2-12 preparing an application, including obtaining all necessary
2-13 medical and psychological records, so that an application may be
2-14 filed at the time that the child ceases receiving the benefit of
2-15 foster care payments from another funding source; and
2-16 (2) assist the child throughout the eligibility
2-17 process, including the determination of appeals, regardless of the
2-18 child's age or legal status as an adult.
2-19 (c) The department may comply with Subsection (a) by
2-20 entering into a new contract or by participating in an existing
2-21 contract between a state agency and a contractor under which
2-22 similar services are provided to the state.
2-23 SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Health and Safety
2-24 Code, is amended by adding Section 533.018 to read as follows:
2-25 Sec. 533.018. FEDERAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS. (a) The department
2-26 shall enter into a contract under which the contractor assists
2-27 appropriate department patients or clients receiving services from
3-1 a community center or department facility in applying for and
3-2 establishing eligibility for federal benefits under the
3-3 supplemental security income program (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et
3-4 seq.), as amended, or the social security disability insurance
3-5 program (42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq.), as amended.
3-6 (b) The department shall identify and refer appropriate
3-7 patients or clients to the contractor for assistance in
3-8 establishing eligibility under the programs listed in Subsection
3-9 (a). In identifying appropriate patients or clients for referral,
3-10 the department shall target areas of this state with low levels of
3-11 applications for benefits under those programs and low levels of
3-12 approval of submitted applications. The department may obtain
3-13 assistance from the contractor in identifying appropriate patients
3-14 or clients.
3-15 (c) The department may comply with Subsection (a) by
3-16 entering into a new contract or by participating in an existing
3-17 contract between another state agency and a contractor under which
3-18 similar services are provided to the state.
3-19 SECTION 4. Chapter 614, Health and Safety Code, is amended
3-20 by adding Section 614.019 to read as follows:
3-21 Sec. 614.019. FEDERAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS. (a) The council
3-22 shall enter into a contract under which the contractor assists
3-23 appropriate offenders served by the council in applying for and
3-24 establishing eligibility for federal benefits under the
3-25 supplemental security income program (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et
3-26 seq.), as amended, or the social security disability insurance
3-27 program (42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq.), as amended.
4-1 (b) The council shall identify and refer appropriate
4-2 offenders served by the council to the contractor for assistance in
4-3 establishing eligibility under the programs listed in Subsection
4-4 (a). In identifying appropriate offenders for referral, the
4-5 council shall target areas of this state with low levels of
4-6 applications for benefits under those programs and low levels of
4-7 approval of submitted applications. The council may obtain
4-8 assistance from the contractor in identifying appropriate
4-9 offenders.
4-10 (c) The council may comply with Subsection (a) by entering
4-11 into a new contract or by participating in an existing contract
4-12 between another state agency and a contractor under which similar
4-13 services are provided to the state.
4-14 SECTION 5. Subchapter C, Chapter 141, Human Resources Code,
4-15 is amended by adding Section 141.0521 to read as follows:
4-16 Sec. 141.0521. ELIGIBILITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.
4-17 (a) The commission shall enter into a contract under which the
4-18 contractor:
4-19 (1) assists the commission in identifying children in
4-20 the juvenile justice system who may be eligible for federal
4-21 benefits under the supplemental security income program (42 U.S.C.
4-22 Section 1381 et seq.), as amended; and
4-23 (2) assists potentially eligible children in applying
4-24 for and establishing eligibility under that program.
4-25 (b) The commission may comply with this section by entering
4-26 into a new contract or by participating in an existing contract
4-27 between a state agency and a contractor under which similar
5-1 services are provided to the state.
5-2 SECTION 6. Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Labor Code, is amended
5-3 by adding Section 301.068 to read as follows:
5-4 Sec. 301.068. FEDERAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS. (a) The commission
5-5 shall enter into a contract under which the contractor:
5-6 (1) assists the commission in identifying persons
5-7 receiving unemployment compensation insurance benefits who may be
5-8 eligible for federal benefits under the supplemental security
5-9 income program (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.), as amended, or the
5-10 social security disability insurance program (42 U.S.C. Section 401
5-11 et seq.), as amended; and
5-12 (2) assists potentially eligible persons in applying
5-13 for and establishing eligibility under those programs.
5-14 (b) The commission may comply with this section by entering
5-15 into a new contract or by participating in an existing contract
5-16 between another state agency and a contractor under which similar
5-17 services are provided to the state.
5-18 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
5-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
5-23 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
5-24 passage, and it is so enacted.