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.