BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1019

By: Meza

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Individuals who are 60 years of age or older and receiving SNAP benefits are required to recertify eligibility as frequently as once per month despite being less likely to experience a change in living circumstances on such a frequent basis. It has been suggested that more simplified requirements for SNAP certification and recertification for those individuals would be helpful. H.B. 1019 seeks to address this issue by providing for the simplification of those requirements for certain individuals 60 years of age or older.

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

H.B. 1019 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and implement simplified certification and recertification requirements for SNAP benefits for individuals who are 60 years of age or older and who reside in a household in which every household resident is 60 years of age or older. The simplified requirements must do the following:

· allow an individual to waive recertification interview requirements;

· simplify and reduce the number of verification requirements for certifying and recertifying eligibility to receive benefits; and

· allow an individual to remain eligible for benefits for 36 months after certification and after each recertification.

H.B. 1019 requires a SNAP recipient to whom the simplified certification and recertification requirements apply to do the following:

· submit to HHSC a change reporting form every 12 months during the 36-month eligibility period; and

· report to HHSC, in accordance with federal law, when the individual receives an increase in income.

The bill requires HHSC, in a manner that complies with federal law, to use data matching to help enroll in SNAP eligible individuals who are receiving Medicaid benefits. The bill authorizes HHSC to seek or use private funding or contract with a public or private entity to carry out the bill's provisions, which apply only to an application or recertification of eligibility for SNAP benefits submitted on or after January 1, 2022.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.