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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of human services block grant |
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programs |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Government Code Section 2105 is amended in part |
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to read: |
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Sec. 2105.002. COMBINATION OF PROGRAMS NOT INTENDED TO |
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REDUCE SERVICES. The process of combining categorical federal |
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assistance programs into block grants should not have an overall |
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effect of reducing the relative proportion of services and benefits |
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made available to low-income individuals, elderly individuals, |
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individuals with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal |
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agricultural workers, provided that no individual who would have |
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received services before the categorical assistance program was |
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combined into a block grant shall be ineligible solely because the |
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program has been combined into a block grant. |
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Sec. 2105.005 PRIORITY TO POVERTY PROGRAMS. (a) An agency |
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should give priority to programs that remedy the causes and cycle of |
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poverty if: |
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(1) the alleviation of poverty is a purpose of the |
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block grant; and |
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(2) the agency has discretion over the types of |
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programs that may be funded with the block grant. |
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(b) In administering a block grant, an agency shall consult: |
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(1) low-income recipients; |
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(2) low-income intended recipients; and |
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(3) organizations representing low-income |
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individuals. |
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(c) To the extent consistent with the purpose of the block |
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grant, an agency's rules shall ensure that providers use block |
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grant funds to the maximum benefit of low-income recipients and |
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intended recipients and shall ensure, in regard to any categorical |
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program administered by the provider which has been combined into a |
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block grant, that no individual who would have been eligible to |
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receive services before the categorical assistance program was |
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combined into a block grant shall be ineligible solely because the |
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program has been combined into a block grant. |
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Sec. 2105.054. NOTICE OF HEARING. (a) An agency shall: |
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(1) provide notice of a public hearing regarding the |
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plan for a block grant not later than the 15th day before the date of |
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the hearing; |
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(2) post the notice in a conspicuous place in each |
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agency office; |
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(3) include in the notice a clear and concise |
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description of the matters to be considered including but not |
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limited to the extent of anticipated reductions or increases in |
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services under the block grant and a statement of the manner in |
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which written comments may be submitted; |
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(4) maintain lists of interested persons; |
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(5) mail notices of hearings to interested persons; |
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and |
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(6) conduct other activities necessary to promote |
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public participation in the public hearing. |
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(b) A notice prepared under this section must be printed in |
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English and Spanish. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017 |