| TO: | Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB401 by Villarreal (Relating to providing information to certain persons about the availability of volunteer income tax assistance programs and the federal earned income tax credit.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted |
The bill would require the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to publicize tax assistance from the volunteer income tax assistance program in order to maximize the amount of any tax refund to which the obligor may be entitled and which may be applied to child support and medical support obligations. The OAG anticipates any work resulting from the passage of this bill could be reasonably absorbed with current resources.
The bill would also amend Texas Government Code, subchapter B, Chapter 531 by adding section 531.087, Distribution of Earned Income Tax Credit Information. This new section requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide access to information and materials needed to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This service would be provided to persons receiving benefits under the CHIP, Medicaid, TANF, Food Stamp or other appropriate health and human services program. The agency must provide this information to clients annually in January.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, LB, MS
|