BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2335
86R13400 MM-D	By: Walle et al. (Kolkhorst)
	Health & Human Services
	5/12/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

It has been reported that in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which is responsible for administering the federal program to provide supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP) benefits to disaster victims in Texas, experienced difficulties in finding sites that met federal requirements for the in-person application process for such SNAP benefits. H.B. 2335 seeks to address this issue by requiring HHSC to coordinate with county judges to evaluate, develop, and maintain a list of potential sites that will allow localities to more rapidly deploy benefits after a natural disaster.

H.B. 2335 amends current law relating to the disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 33.0025, as follows:

Sec. 33.0025. DISASTER SNAP. (a), Defines "program" to mean the program to provide supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to victims of a disaster as authorized by 7 U.S.C. Section 2014.

(b) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to:

(1) collaborate with county judges to:

(A) evaluate, develop, and maintain a list of potential sites that meet federal requirements for in-person application for program benefits; and

(B) annually update the list developed under Paragraph (A); and

(2) assess the feasibility of, subject to being granted any necessary federal waiver:

(A) accepting program benefits applications online and by telephone; and

(B) staffing a high-volume call center to process those applications.

SECTION 2.� Provides that, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act:

(1) HHSC is required to consult with federal officials, including the members of the Texas delegation to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and the United States Department of Agriculture regarding repealing the in-person application requirement for supplemental nutrition assistance benefits for victims of a disaster; and

(2) the executive commissioner of HHSC is required to, if necessary, develop and seek a waiver or other appropriate authorization from the United States secretary of agriculture to allow submission of applications online and by telephone for supplemental nutrition assistance benefits for victims of a disaster.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.