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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disaster supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.0025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0025. DISASTER SNAP. (a) In this section, |
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"program" means the program to provide supplemental nutrition |
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assistance benefits to victims of a disaster as authorized by 7 |
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U.S.C. Section 2014. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) collaborate with county judges to: |
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(A) evaluate, develop, and maintain a list of |
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potential sites that meet federal requirements for in-person |
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application for program benefits; and |
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(B) annually update the list developed under |
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Paragraph (A); and |
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(2) assess the feasibility of, subject to being |
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granted any necessary federal waiver: |
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(A) accepting program benefits applications |
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online and by telephone; and |
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(B) staffing a high-volume call center to process |
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those applications. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act: |
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(1) the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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consult with federal officials, including the members of the Texas |
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delegation to the United States Senate and House of Representatives |
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and the United States Department of Agriculture regarding repealing |
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the in-person application requirement for supplemental nutrition |
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assistance benefits for victims of a disaster; and |
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(2) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall, if necessary, develop and seek a waiver |
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or other appropriate authorization from the United States secretary |
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of agriculture to allow submission of applications online and by |
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telephone for supplemental nutrition assistance benefits for |
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victims of a disaster. |
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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, 2019. |