SRC-JEC S.B. 161 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 161
77R2216 CLG-DBy: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
2/22/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the only benefits received statewide when a person leaves
welfare for the workforce are childcare and transitional Medicaid benefits.
As proposed, S.B. 161 expands the transitional services available and
requires state agencies dealing with welfare-to-work cases to provide
transitional support services for a certain period of time. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 31A, Human Resources Code, to add Section
31.00351, as follows: 

Sec. 31.00351. TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES. (a) Sets forth a list of
certain services included in "support services" for the purposes of this
section. 

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Human Services (department) and the
Texas Workforce Commission, subject to the availability of funds, to
provide transitional support services to a person who was receiving
financial assistance but is no longer eligible to receive the assistance
because of certain factors. 

(c) Requires each agency to provide the support services that the agency
determines are necessary and appropriate, in accordance with agency rules
and federal law. 

(d) Authorizes the agencies to provide the support services only until the
earlier of: the end of the applicable period prescribed by Section 31.0065
for the provision of transitional benefits; or the first anniversary of the
date on which the person becomes ineligible for financial assistance
because of increased household income. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 31.012(c), Human Resources Code, to require the
department, notwithstanding Sections 31.0035(b) and 32.0255(b), to provide
to a person who is exempt under this subsection and who voluntarily
participates in a program under Subsection (a)(2) six months of
transitional benefits, other than transitional support services, in
addition to the applicable limit prescribed by Section 31.0065. 

SECTION 3.  Requires a state agency, if before implementing any provision
of this Act it determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal
agency is necessary for implementation, to request the waiver or
authorization and authorizes the state agency to delay implementing that
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2001.
          Makes application of this Act prospective and applicable only to
a person who                    receives financial assistance under Chapter
31, Human Resources Code.