This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.
Amend SB 200 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 2 of the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 2 accordingly:
SECTION 2.____. (a) Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.0911 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0911. PHOTOGRAPH AND OTHER INFORMATION ON CERTAIN ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER CARDS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Financial assistance program" means the financial assistance program established under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code.
(2) "Recipient" means a person who receives benefits under the financial assistance program or the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
(3) "Supplemental nutrition assistance program" has the meaning assigned by Section 33.0005, Human Resources Code.
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the commission shall ensure that the front side of each electronic benefits transfer card used by a recipient, or other person authorized on the recipient's account, for purposes of receiving benefits under the financial assistance program or the supplemental nutrition assistance program displays:
(1) the name and photograph of the recipient or other authorized person, as appropriate;
(2) the words "Fraud Hotline" followed by the telephone number of the commission's toll-free hotline for reporting suspected fraud required under Section 531.108(b)(2);
(3) the Internet website address maintained by the commission for the purpose of allowing persons to report suspected fraud in either the financial assistance program or the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and
(4) the statement "Funds provided by taxpayers."
(c) A recipient, or other person authorized on the recipient's account, as appropriate, is exempt from the photograph requirement imposed by Subsection (b) if the person is:
(1) 65 years of age or older;
(2) younger than 19 years of age;
(3) blind;
(4) disabled; or
(5) a victim of domestic violence.
(d) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement Subsection (c).
(b) Notwithstanding Section 531.0911, Government Code, as added by this section, the Health and Human Services Commission is not required to issue electronic benefits transfer cards that comply with that section until September 1, 2016, but is required to begin issuing cards that comply with that section beginning on that date. The commission shall ensure that on or before August 31, 2018, each electronic benefits transfer card used to deliver benefits to recipients under the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, conforms to Section 531.0911, Government Code, as added by this section.