SRC-JEC S.B. 1008 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1008
77R8278 KKA-DBy: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
3/6/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
program, states have flexibility in setting motor vehicle policies,
including in determining the value of a motor vehicle under TANF.  As
proposed, S.B. 1008 sets the policy in determining the value of motor
vehicles so that families can own a more valuable, and more reliable,
vehicle without losing eligibility for assistance. 

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 Sections 31.032(d) and (e), Human Resources Code, to
require the Texas Department of Human Services (department) to exclude from
an applicant's available resources, in determining whether the applicant is
eligible for assistance, the entire fair market value of the applicant's
ownership interest in one motor vehicle; and the fair market value of the
applicant's ownership interest in any other motor vehicle, the value of
which is not excluded under this section, but not more than $5,000 per
motor vehicle plus or minus a certain amount.  Deletes text regarding a
certain schedule to determine the amount and a certain date.  Requires the
department, if the federal statute or regulations governing the maximum
allowable resources under the food stamp program, 7 U.S.C. Section 2014(g)
or 7 CFR Part 273, are revised, to adjust the standards that determine
available resources under this section to reflect those revisions. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
33.014, as follows: 

Sec. 33.014.  DETERMINATION OF RESOURCES:  MOTOR VEHICLE ALLOWANCES.
Requires the department, for purposes of determining whether a person meets
resource requirements for eligibility for food stamps, to apply the motor
vehicle allowance standards used by the department in the financial
assistance program, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. Section 2014(g)(2)(D),
instead of the federal food stamp motor vehicle allowance standards. 

SECTION 3.  Requires, 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 of that provision, the agency
affected by the provision to request the waiver or authorization and
authorizes the 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.