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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for certain nutritional assistance |
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programs and certain nutritional and supportive services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 33.0024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0024. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN |
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ASSISTANCE: QUALIFIED VOTER STATUS. (a) In this section, |
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"qualified voter" has the meaning assigned by Section 11.002, |
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Election Code, but does not include the requirements of |
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Subdivisions (3), (4), and (6) of that section. |
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(b) A person who is 18 years of age or older is not eligible |
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for nutritional assistance under the food stamp program or the |
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child and adult care food program if the person is not a qualified |
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voter. |
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(c) In determining whether a person who is 18 years of age or |
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older is eligible for nutritional assistance under the food stamp |
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program, the department shall verify that the person is a qualified |
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voter. |
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(d) A person who provides nutritional assistance reimbursed |
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by the child and adult care food program shall verify that each |
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person who is 18 years of age or older and to whom that assistance is |
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provided under the program is a qualified voter in accordance with |
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rules adopted by the executive commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 161.085 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.085. RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN |
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NUTRITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Nutritional or supportive services" means |
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services authorized and funded in accordance with Title III, Older |
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Americans Act (42 U.S.C. Chapter 35). |
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(2) "Qualified voter" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 11.002, Election Code, but does not include the |
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requirements of Subdivisions (3), (4), and (6) of that section. |
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(b) A person who is 18 years of age or older is not eligible |
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to receive nutritional or supportive services if the person is not a |
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qualified voter. |
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(c) The department shall require a person who receives funds |
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from the department to provide nutritional or supportive services |
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to verify that each person who is 18 years of age or older and to |
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whom those services are provided using the funds is a qualified |
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voter. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Section 33.0024, Human Resources Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a determination of eligibility of |
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a person for nutritional assistance under Chapter 33, Human |
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Resources Code, made on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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determination of eligibility made before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the determination |
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was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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(b) Section 161.085, Human Resources Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to nutritional or supportive services provided on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. Nutritional or supportive |
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services provided before the effective date of this Act are |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the services were |
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provided, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |