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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial assistance provided to certain persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.003, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) During the state fiscal year beginning September 1, |
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2009, the one-time emergency assistance payment made to an |
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applicant for financial assistance who is eligible for, but opts to |
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not receive, financial assistance must be in the amount of $1,500. |
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This subsection expires September 1, 2010. |
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(e) In addition to any other financial assistance payments |
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made, the Health and Human Services Commission shall provide a |
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one-time supplemental assistance payment of $500 to each applicant |
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for financial assistance who is determined eligible for and begins |
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receiving that assistance for the person and the person's family |
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during the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2009, and to |
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each person whose eligibility for financial assistance provided to |
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or for the person and the person's family is recertified during the |
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state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2009. This subsection |
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expires September 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.0032, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), during the state fiscal |
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year beginning September 1, 2009, the Health and Human Services |
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Commission may not apply or continue to apply a sanction |
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terminating financial assistance as required by that subsection if, |
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during the month in which that sanction would be applied, the |
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unemployment rate in this state exceeds five percent. The |
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commission shall instead apply as a sanction during that month a |
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reduction of $25 in the total amount of financial assistance that |
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would be provided under this chapter to or for a person and the |
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person's family if no sanction were applied. This subsection |
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expires September 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 3. Section 31.0041, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), supplemental |
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financial assistance provided to a person under Subsection (b) |
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during the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2009, must be in |
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the amount of $1,500. This subsection expires September 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply to: |
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(1) a person who applies for financial assistance |
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under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on or after the effective |
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date of this Act; and |
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(2) a person who receives financial assistance for the |
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person or the person's family on or after the effective date of this |
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Act, regardless of whether the person's eligibility for that |
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assistance was determined before, on, or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |