By Naishtat H.B. No. 1005
77R3850 KKA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a state program of temporary assistance
1-3 and related support services for needy persons.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Human Resources Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Chapter 34 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 34. STATE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES
1-8 PROGRAM
1-9 Sec. 34.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-10 (1) "Related support services" means services
1-11 considered under federal law to be a component of money payments
1-12 for purposes of the financial assistance program authorized by
1-13 Chapter 31.
1-14 (2) "Temporary assistance" means money payments for
1-15 needy persons authorized by this chapter.
1-16 Sec. 34.002. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE
1-17 PROGRAM; FUNDING. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission,
1-18 the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission, with the
1-19 participation of local workforce development boards, shall jointly
1-20 develop and implement a state program of temporary assistance and
1-21 related support services that is distinct from the financial
1-22 assistance program authorized by Chapter 31.
1-23 (b) Temporary assistance and related support services may be
1-24 provided under the state program only to:
2-1 (1) two-parent families; or
2-2 (2) persons residing in minimum service counties, as
2-3 defined by the Texas Workforce Commission.
2-4 (c) Temporary assistance and related support services
2-5 provided under the state program may be funded only with state
2-6 money.
2-7 Sec. 34.003. RULES. (a) The Health and Human Services
2-8 Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission
2-9 shall adopt all rules necessary for implementation of the state
2-10 program, including rules regarding eligibility, work requirements,
2-11 work exemptions, time limits, and related support services.
2-12 (b) The rules must be designed to result in a state program
2-13 that is substantively identical to the financial assistance program
2-14 authorized by Chapter 31, except to the extent that programmatic
2-15 differences are appropriate because of the populations served by
2-16 those programs and the sources of funding for those programs.
2-17 Appropriate programmatic differences may include different
2-18 eligibility criteria, work requirements, work exemptions, time
2-19 limits, and related support services.
2-20 (c) The Health and Human Services Commission, the
2-21 department, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall form an
2-22 interagency work group to develop the rules required under this
2-23 section. The interagency work group shall provide for
2-24 participation in development of the rules by representatives of
2-25 local workforce development boards.
2-26 Sec. 34.004. PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO PERSONS RESIDING IN
2-27 MINIMUM SERVICE COUNTIES. The Health and Human Services Commission,
3-1 the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall develop
3-2 and implement procedures to:
3-3 (1) determine the date on which a person's eligibility
3-4 for temporary assistance and related support services based on
3-5 residency in a minimum service county, as defined by the Texas
3-6 Workforce Commission, will cease as a result of the county's
3-7 reclassification; and
3-8 (2) provide for establishment of that person's
3-9 eligibility for financial assistance and related support services
3-10 under Chapter 31 in a manner that avoids disruption of benefits to
3-11 which the person is entitled.
3-12 Sec. 34.005. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A recipient
3-13 of temporary assistance and related support services under the
3-14 state program is eligible for medical assistance under Chapter 32
3-15 in the same manner as a person receiving financial assistance under
3-16 Chapter 31.
3-17 Sec. 34.006. REPORT. The Health and Human Services
3-18 Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission
3-19 shall monitor implementation and operation of the state program
3-20 and, not later than December 1 of each year, jointly report to the
3-21 governor, the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board on the
3-22 status and use of the state program.
3-23 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 34.006, Human Resources
3-24 Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services
3-25 Commission, the Texas Department of Human Services, and the Texas
3-26 Workforce Commission shall submit the report required by that
3-27 section beginning with the report due not later than December 1,
4-1 2002.
4-2 SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act a
4-3 state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
4-4 federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
4-5 the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
4-6 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
4-7 waiver or authorization is granted.
4-8 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.