AN ACT
1-1 relating to exemptions from work or employment activity
1-2 participation requirements for certain Temporary Assistance for
1-3 Needy Families (TANF) recipients.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 31.012, Human Resources Code, is amended
1-6 by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
1-7 follows:
1-8 (c) A person who is the caretaker of a physically or
1-9 mentally disabled child who requires the caretaker's presence is
1-10 not required to participate in a program under this section.
1-11 Effective January 1, 2000, a single person who is the caretaker of
1-12 a child [September 1, 1995, a person] is not required to
1-13 participate in a program under this section until the caretaker's
1-14 [person's] youngest child at the time the caretaker [person] first
1-15 became eligible for assistance reaches the age of three [five].
1-16 Effective September 1, 2000 [1997], a single person who is the
1-17 caretaker of a child is exempt until the caretaker's [person's]
1-18 youngest child at the time the caretaker [person] first became
1-19 eligible for assistance reaches the age of two [four]. Effective
1-20 September 1, 2001, a single person who is the caretaker of a child
1-21 is exempt until the caretaker's youngest child at the time the
1-22 caretaker first became eligible for assistance reaches the age of
1-23 one. Notwithstanding Sections 31.0035(b) and 32.0255(b), the
1-24 department shall provide to a person who is exempt under this
2-1 subsection and who voluntarily participates in a program under
2-2 Subsection (a)(2) six months of transitional benefits in addition
2-3 to the applicable limit prescribed by Section 31.0065.
2-4 (f) In this section, "caretaker of a child" means the parent
2-5 or relative of a dependent child with whom the child primarily
2-6 resides, including a parent or relative who has been appointed
2-7 under a court order as sole managing conservator or joint managing
2-8 conservator of the child.
2-9 SECTION 2. Before implementing any provision of Subsection
2-10 (c), Section 31.012, Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act,
2-11 the Texas Department of Human Services shall work in conjunction
2-12 with the Texas Workforce Commission or a local workforce
2-13 development board, as appropriate, to develop and implement a
2-14 client education effort targeted at clients affected by the changes
2-15 to that section. The department shall inform each client whose
2-16 exemption status is affected of the pending change, the timeline
2-17 for the change, and the effect of the change on the client's work
2-18 requirements and time limits.
2-19 SECTION 3. If, before implementing any provision of
2-20 Subsection (c), Section 31.012, Human Resources Code, as amended by
2-21 this Act, a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization
2-22 from a federal agency is necessary for implementation, the agency
2-23 shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay
2-24 implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is
2-25 granted.
2-26 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Subsection (c), Section 31.012,
3-1 Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act:
3-2 (1) a person receiving financial assistance under
3-3 Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on December 31, 1999, remains
3-4 subject to the exemptions from participation in work or employment
3-5 activity requirements under Subsection (c), Section 31.012, Human
3-6 Resources Code, as it existed immediately before the effective date
3-7 of this Act, until the person's first recertification date for the
3-8 receipt of that assistance that occurs on or after January 1, 2000;
3-9 (2) a person receiving financial assistance under
3-10 Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on August 31, 2000, remains
3-11 subject to the exemptions from participation in work or employment
3-12 activity requirements under Subsection (c), Section 31.012, Human
3-13 Resources Code, as it exists on January 1, 2000, until the person's
3-14 first recertification date for the receipt of that assistance that
3-15 occurs on or after September 1, 2000; and
3-16 (3) a person receiving financial assistance under
3-17 Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on August 31, 2001, remains
3-18 subject to the exemptions from participation in work or employment
3-19 activity requirements under Subsection (c), Section 31.012, Human
3-20 Resources Code, as it exists on September 1, 2000, until the
3-21 person's first recertification date for the receipt of that
3-22 assistance that occurs on or after September 1, 2001.
3-23 SECTION 5. Except as provided by Section 6 of this Act, this
3-24 Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-25 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect only if a specific
3-26 appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in
4-1 H.B. No. 1 (General Appropriations Act), Acts of the 76th
4-2 Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. If no specific appropriation
4-3 is provided in H.B. No. 1, the General Appropriations Act, this Act
4-4 has no effect.
4-5 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
4-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 666 passed the Senate on
May 4, 1999, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate concurred in
House amendment on May 28, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 666 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 26, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor