BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 723

By: Perry

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program was established as a temporary safety net for low-income families and their children while they search for work and self-sufficiency. Interested parties assert that, although adult recipients are required to work or receive or fulfill other training or education requirements, work and training exemptions are made for nonrecipient parents who are able to work. The parties explain that over half of the families who receive TANF assistance are exempt from work and training requirements, which the parties contend undermines the goal of TANF to create self-sufficient families. S.B. 723 seeks to require participation in certain TANF employment and other programs by certain persons.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 723 amends the Human Resources Code, as amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, to include a nonrecipient parent, defined in statute as an adult or minor parent who is not a recipient of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program but who is living with the person's child who is a TANF recipient, among the persons required to sign the TANF responsibility agreement. The bill requires the responsibility agreement to require each nonrecipient parent to attend appropriate parenting skills training classes as determined by a needs assessment and, unless the nonrecipient parent is otherwise exempt from the requirements, to satisfy the mandatory employment or employment training requirements.

S.B. 723 requires a nonrecipient parent to comply with statutory requirements relating to mandatory work or participation in employment activities through the job opportunities and basic skills program during any one-month period in which the child of the nonrecipient parent is receiving TANF benefits. The bill exempts from such statutory requirements a nonrecipient parent who receives federal Supplemental Security Income benefits and authorizes the Texas Workforce Commission to provide services to the nonrecipient parent in accordance with rules adopted by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The bill includes a nonrecipient parent among the persons for whom HHSC, in cooperation with certain other public and private entities, is required to develop a parenting skills training program. The bill's provisions apply to a person receiving TANF benefits, including a nonrecipient parent, on or after the bill's effective date, regardless of the date the determination of eligibility for that assistance was made.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.