78R7826 CLG-F

By:  Christian                                                    H.B. No. 2054



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to TANF and Medicaid benefits for additional children born 
to TANF recipients.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, 
is amended by adding Section 31.0038 to read as follows:
	Sec. 31.0038.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ADDITIONAL 
DEPENDENT CHILDREN.  (a)  The department may not provide financial 
assistance for the support of a child born to a recipient of 
financial assistance at least 10 months after the date on which the 
recipient initially began receiving the assistance.
	(b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a child born to a 
recipient who reapplies for financial assistance after not 
receiving the assistance for the 12 consecutive months preceding 
the date of the reapplication.
	(c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the state shall provide 
to a child prohibited by that subsection from receiving financial 
assistance:
		(1)  child care and other support services provided 
under this chapter to a dependent child; and
		(2)  medical assistance.                                               
	SECTION 2.  If before implementing Section 31.0038, Human 
Resources Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Human 
Services determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal 
agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the 
department shall request the waiver and may delay implementing that 
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to a child born on or after July 1, 2004, to a recipient 
of financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, 
who, on behalf of another child born to the recipient, receives the 
assistance on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of 
the date on which eligibility for that assistance was determined.