Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1259 by King, Susan (Relating to the work requirements of the supplemental nutrition assistance program.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill permanently disqualifies an individual for supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits for failing to comply with SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) requirements for a third time unless they have good cause.
Currently, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) imposes a 6-month SNAP disqualification the third or subsequent time an individual fails to comply with SNAP E&T requirements without good cause. If the individual who did not comply with SNAP E&T requirements is also the primary wage earner, the disqualification applies to all household members. This bill would change the third disqualification for failing to comply with SNAP work requirements from 6 months to a permanent disqualification. Although the change in law would require policy, process, and training updates, HHSC assumes the costs could be absorbed within existing resources. HHSC estimates there would be minimal cost associated with modifications to Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign Systems (TIERS). The change in law is also expected to result in a slight caseload reduction; however, this impact to the eligibility determination workload is minimal and SNAP benefits are 100 percent federally funded.
The Texas Workforce Commission indicates that the bill will require revision of its training guide. The cost to implement this change is minimal and can be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
320 Texas Workforce Commission, 529 Health and Human Services Commission