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.