SRC- MKV, C.S.S.B. 45 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 45
77R3122 KKA-DBy: Zaffirini
Health and Human Services
2/16/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 45 directs the Department of Human Services, the
Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Workforce Commission to
jointly adopt rules prescribing what constitutes a hardship that would
warrant an exception to the imposition of time-limited benefits. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Human
Services, the Health and Human Services Commission, and  the Texas
Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 31.0066, Human Resources Code)
of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 31A, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
31.0066, as follows: 

Sec. 31.0066.  HARDSHIP EXEMPTIONS FROM FEDERAL TIME LIMITS.  (a) Requires
the Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Workforce Commission, and
the Health and Human Services Commission to jointly adopt rules prescribing
circumstances that constitute a hardship for purposes of exempting a
recipient of financial assistance from the application of time limits
imposed by federal law on the receipt of benefits.  Requires the rules to
include a broad range of circumstances that reasonably prevent recipients
of financial  assistance from becoming selfsupporting before expiration of
the period of the specified by federal law. 

SECTION 2. Requires that, if before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal
agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency request the waiver
or authorization and authorizes the delay of implementation of that
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.
Provides that this Act applies to a person receiving financial assistance
on or after the effective date regardless of the date on which the person
began receiving that financial assistance. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from original by adding Section 31.0066, Human Resources Code
regarding hardship exemptions from federal time limits, while the original
amends Section 31.0065, Human Resources Code.