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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program for assisting certain recipients of |
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public benefits with gaining self-sufficiency. |
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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 531.02241 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02241. PILOT PROGRAM FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF |
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CERTAIN PERSONS RECEIVING TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES |
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BENEFITS OR OTHER SERVICES. (a) The commission shall develop and |
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implement a pilot program for assisting an eligible participant |
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under this section with gaining self-sufficiency and no longer |
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requiring financial assistance, child care assistance, or other |
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public benefits. |
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(b) A person is eligible to participate in the pilot program |
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established under this section if the person: |
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(1) is a recipient of financial assistance benefits |
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under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or child care assistance |
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under the child care management services program operated by the |
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Texas Workforce Commission; |
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(2) has a total household income that is less than the |
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amount necessary for the recipient to be self-sufficient based on |
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the recipient's family's makeup and geographical area of residence; |
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(3) is at least 18 but not more than 55 years of age; |
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and |
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(4) is willing and able to be employed. |
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(c) The program must be designed to assist eligible |
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participants in attaining self-sufficiency by: |
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(1) identifying eligibility requirements for the |
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benefits or assistance described by Subsection (b)(1) that may be |
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waived for a limited period of time and that, if applied, would |
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impede self-sufficiency; |
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(2) implementing strategies, including waiving the |
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eligibility requirements identified in Subdivision (1), to remove |
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barriers to self-sufficiency; and |
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(3) moving eligible participants through progressive |
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stages toward self-sufficiency that include the following phases: |
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(A) an initial phase in which a participant moves |
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out of financial crisis by securing housing, medical care, and |
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financial assistance; |
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(B) a second phase in which the participant moves |
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toward stability by securing employment and child care and |
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participating in case management and financial education programs; |
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(C) a third phase in which the participant |
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transitions to self-sufficiency by securing employment that pays a |
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living wage, paying debt, and building savings; and |
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(D) a final phase in which the participant moves |
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out of poverty by amassing at least three months of savings and |
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eliminating debt so that the participant will no longer be |
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dependent on public assistance benefits. |
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(d) The pilot program established under this section must |
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operate for at least 12 months but may include additional planning, |
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testing, and data-gathering periods. |
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(e) The commission shall develop and implement the pilot |
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program established under this section with the assistance of the |
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Texas Workforce Commission, local workforce development boards, |
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the United States Department of Health and Human Services, |
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faith-based and other relevant public or private organizations, and |
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any other entity or person the commission determines appropriate. |
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(f) On the conclusion of the pilot program but not later |
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than September 1, 2020, the commission shall report to the |
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legislature on the results of the pilot program. The report must |
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include: |
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(1) an evaluation of the program's effect on eligible |
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participants in achieving self-sufficiency and no longer requiring |
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financial assistance, child care assistance, or other public |
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benefits; |
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(2) the impact to this state on the costs of the |
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financial assistance program under Chapter 31, Human Resources |
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Code, and the child care management services program operated by |
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the Texas Workforce Commission; and |
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(3) recommendations on the feasibility and |
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continuation of the pilot program. |
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(g) The executive commissioner and the Texas Workforce |
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Commission may adopt rules to implement this section. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2020. |
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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. 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, 2017. |