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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a program to allow faith- and community-based |
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organizations to offer supplemental assistance to certain |
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recipients of public assistance. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02482 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02482. FAITH- AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION |
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SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN PERSONS RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. (a) In |
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this section, "community-based organization" and "faith-based |
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organization" have the meanings assigned by Section 535.001. |
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(b) The commission shall establish a program under which |
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faith- and community-based organizations may, on the request of the |
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applicant, contact and offer supplemental assistance to an |
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applicant for benefits under: |
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(1) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, |
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Human Resources Code; |
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(2) the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, |
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Human Resources Code; |
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(3) the supplemental nutrition assistance program |
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under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; or |
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(4) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, |
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Health and Safety Code. |
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(c) At the time of application for benefits described by |
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Subsection (b), an applicant must: |
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(1) be informed about and given the opportunity to |
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enroll in the program; and |
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(2) be informed that enrolling in the program will not |
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affect the person's eligibility for benefits. |
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(d) The commission shall develop a procedure under which |
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faith- and community-based organizations may apply to participate |
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in the program. |
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(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to |
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implement the program established under this section, including |
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rules that: |
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(1) describe the types of faith- and community-based |
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organizations that may apply to participate in the program and the |
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qualifications and standards of service required of a participating |
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organization; |
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(2) facilitate contact between a person who enrolls in |
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the program and a faith- and community-based organization |
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participating in the program that provides supplemental services |
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that may be of assistance to the person; |
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(3) establish processes for the suspension, |
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revocation, and periodic renewal of an organization's |
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participation in the program, as appropriate; |
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(4) establish methods to ensure the confidentiality |
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and appropriate use of applicant information shared with a |
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participating organization; and |
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(5) permit a person enrolled in the program to |
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terminate the person's enrollment in the program. |
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(f) In establishing the program, the commission may solicit |
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expertise and assistance from interested persons, including faith- |
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and community-based organizations, and may establish a temporary |
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work group to provide input and assistance. This subsection |
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expires, and any work group established under this subsection is |
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abolished, September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement |
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the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2016. |
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* * * * * |