SRC-VRA H.B. 2970 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2970 78R11251 KLA-DBy: Naishtat (Zaffirini) Health & Human Services 5/21/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The 77th Legislature enacted legislation to create a separate state program for two-parent families who are recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This program was created to help ensure the state's ability to meet the federal work participation rate requirements. That legislation expires September 2, 2003. H.B. 2970 authorizes the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) to continue the separate state program for two-parent TANF families if federal work participation rate requirements continue to be significantly different for two-parent families and for one-parent families. In the event of passage of federal TANF reauthorization, DHS would be authorized to serve two-parent families under the same program as one-parent families 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 Section 34.002, Human Resources Code, by adding Subsection (d) to authorize the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS), if federal law is enacted that imposes work participation rate requirements on two-parent families for purposes of the financial assistance program under Chapter 31 that are substantively identical to those that federal law imposes on one-parent families for purposes of that program, on the effective date of the federal law relating to the work participation rate requirements for two-parent families, to provide for establishment of that recipient's eligibility for financial assistance under Chapter 31 instead of under this chapter in a manner that avoids disruption of benefits for which the recipient is eligible. SECTION 2. Amends Section 34.007, Human Resources Code, to require the Health and Human Services Commission, DHS, and the Texas Workforce Commission to monitor implementation and operation of the state program and, not later than September 1 of each year, jointly report to the governor, the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board on the status and use of the state program, rather than requiring the report to be submitted not later than September 1, 2002, and to include certain information. SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 5, Chapter 1440, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.