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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to simplified certification and recertification |
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requirements for certain persons under the supplemental nutrition |
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assistance program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 33.015(a), Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In administering the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program, the commission shall, except as provided by Subsection (c) |
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and Section 33.019, allow a person to comply with initial |
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eligibility requirements, including any initial interview, and |
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with subsequent periodic eligibility recertification requirements |
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by telephone instead of through a personal appearance at commission |
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offices if: |
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(1) the person and each member of the person's |
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household: |
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(A) have no earned income; and |
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(B) are elderly or persons with disabilities; or |
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(2) the person is subject to a hardship, as determined |
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by commission rule. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.019 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.019. SIMPLIFIED CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION |
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REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN SNAP APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS. (a) The |
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commission shall develop and implement simplified certification |
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and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition |
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assistance program benefits for individuals who are 60 years of age |
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or older and who reside in a household in which every individual |
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residing in the household is 60 years of age or older. The |
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simplified requirements must: |
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(1) allow an individual described by this section to |
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waive recertification interview requirements; |
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(2) simplify and reduce the number of verification |
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requirements for certifying and recertifying eligibility to |
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receive benefits, which must include the use of a shortened |
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application form; and |
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(3) allow the individual to remain eligible for |
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benefits for 36 months after certification and after each |
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recertification. |
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(b) An individual described by this section is required to: |
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(1) submit to the commission a change reporting form |
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every 12 months during the 36-month eligibility period; and |
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(2) report to the commission, in accordance with |
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federal law, when the individual receives an increase in income. |
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(c) The commission shall, in a manner that complies with |
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federal law, use data matching to help enroll in the supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program eligible individuals described by |
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this section who are receiving Medicaid benefits. The commission |
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may seek or use private funding or contract with a public or private |
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entity to carry out this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 33.019, Human Resources Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to an application or recertification of |
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eligibility of a person for supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits submitted on or after January 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |