BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1533

By: Farrar

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that many states have either removed the asset test or excluded vehicles from determinations with regard to supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) eligibility. C.S.H.B. 1533 seeks to increase SNAP eligibility by prohibiting the Health and Human Services Commission from considering motor vehicle ownership interests of a certain value when reviewing a household's resources for purposes of determining SNAP eligibility.

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

C.S.H.B. 1533 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Health and Human Services Commission, in determining the eligibility of an applicant for or recertifying the eligibility of a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, from considering as resources the value of a motor vehicle in which the applicant or recipient or a member of the applicant's or recipient's household has an ownership interest up to $25,000 for the first motor vehicle and $25,000 for one additional vehicle.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1533 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 33.021 to read as follows: Sec. 33.021.  EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN RESOURCES IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. In determining the eligibility of an applicant for or recertifying the eligibility of a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, the commission may not consider as resources: (1)  any liquid resources of the applicant or recipient or a member of the applicant's or recipient's household, including the total amount of assets held in a school-based account or bond described by Section 28.0024(b)(2), Education Code, that are considered liquid resources, notwithstanding Section 33.0291(b); or (2)  any motor vehicle in which the applicant or recipient or a member of the applicant's or recipient's household has an ownership interest.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 33.021 to read as follows: Sec. 33.021.  EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN RESOURCES IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. In determining the eligibility of an applicant for or recertifying the eligibility of a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, the commission may not consider as resources the value of a motor vehicle in which the applicant or recipient or a member of the applicant's or recipient's household has an ownership interest up to: (1)  $25,000 for the first motor vehicle; and (2)  $25,000 for one additional vehicle.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to an initial determination or recertification of eligibility of a person for the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of this Act.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3.  If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.