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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to asset exclusions in the determination of eligibility |
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for financial assistance benefits for certain persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 31.0321 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.0321. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF GRANDPARENTS |
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OF DEPENDENT CHILD. (a) This section applies only to a grandparent |
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seeking or receiving financial assistance benefits under this |
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subchapter on behalf of a dependent child. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 31.032, in determining whether |
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the dependent child of a person to whom this section applies is |
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eligible for assistance authorized under this chapter, the |
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department shall exclude from the person's available resources: |
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(1) $5,000 for the applicant's household; and |
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(2) the fair market value of the applicant's ownership |
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interest in a motor vehicle, but not more than $7,000 plus or minus |
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an amount to be determined annually by rule beginning on October 1, |
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2016, to reflect changes in the new car component of the Consumer |
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Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor |
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Statistics. |
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(c) In addition to the increase authorized by Subsection |
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(b)(2), the amounts under Subsection (b) to be excluded from the |
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available resources of a person to whom this section applies may be |
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increased by rule. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an |
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initial determination or redetermination of eligibility of a person |
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for financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, |
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that is made on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |