BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1764
80R10353 KLA-D By: Uresti
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Food Stamp Program (program) provides crucial support to families making a transition from welfare to work. Currently in Texas, only 50 percent of persons eligible are enrolled in the program, equating to approximately two million eligible persons who are not receiving these federally funded benefits. Increasing the enrollment in the program to 70 percent would bring hundreds of millions of dollars into Texas' economy and relieve the burden on health care programs, such as Medicaid.
As proposed, S.B. 1764 requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a pilot program which authorizes retail businesses and HHSC to enter into an agreement that increases outreach efforts and eligibility determinations for the program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.066, as follows:
Sec. 531.066. PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OUTREACH. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to enter into partnerships with private entities, including retail and other businesses, that agree to conduct outreach efforts to persons in Texas regarding certain health and human services programs.
(b) Authorizes a private entity that enters into a partnership with HHSC under this section to provide certain space and perform certain tasks.
(c) Authorizes the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules regarding the requirements applicable to an entity with which HHSC enters into a partnership under this section.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.