C.S.H.B. 2970 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2970 By: Naishtat Human Services Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND 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. CSHB 2970 would authorize 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, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2970 amends the Human Resources Code authorizes the Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS) to serve two-parent families under the same financial assistance program (program) as one-parent families, if federal law is enacted that imposes work participation rate requirements for TANF two-parent families that are significantly similar to those for TANF one-parent families. HB 2970 requires the Health and Human Services Commission, TDHS and the Texas Workforce Commission to monitor the implementation and operation of the state program, and to report jointly to the governor, the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board on the status and use of the program. HB 2970 repeals the expiration date of the program created by the 77th Legislature. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage if the Act receives the necessary vote, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE CSHB 2970 differs from the original by stating that it is the work participation rate requirements for two parent families that would need to be significantly similar to those for one parent families, rather than the work requirements and work exemptions as indicated in HB 2970 as filed. The substitute removes the provision that a report submitted jointly to the governor, the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board, on status and use of the program no later than September 1, 2002.