| TO: | Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB612 by Naishtat (Relating to the eligibility of certain persons for the food stamp program.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend Chapter 33 of the Human Resources Code by adding a section that would eliminate the lifetime disqualification of an individual with felony drug convictions from receipt of food stamps benefits if the person (1) as a result of the conviction is on community supervision at the time the eligibility determination is made or was on community supervision which has expired or been terminated without revocation; (2) is enrolled in a drug treatment program at the time the eligibility determination is made; or (3) completed a drug treatment program after their conviction. The bill would apply only to eligibility determinations made on or after September 1, 2009, the effective date of the bill.
The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) indicates that the cost of implementing the bill could be absorbed within current resources. HHSC estimates the bill, if enacted, would increase the average monthly number of food stamp recipients by 900 to 925 in fiscal years 2010-14. HHSC estimates the one-time cost of modifying various automated eligibility systems would be $89,760 in All Funds (including $44,880 in General Revenue Funds.)
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, LI, MH
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