| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to annually adjusting for inflation the maximum amount of |
|
|
a motor vehicle excluded in determining eligibility for the |
|
|
supplemental nutrition assistance program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 33.0215 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 33.0215. ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE |
|
|
VALUE EXCLUDED IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. (a) The executive |
|
|
commissioner by rule shall adjust for inflation in the manner |
|
|
specified by Subsection (b) the maximum amount of the fair market |
|
|
value of a motor vehicle that may be excluded from the resources of |
|
|
an applicant's household for purposes of determining the |
|
|
applicant's eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance |
|
|
program benefits, including eligibility determined in accordance |
|
|
with 7 C.F.R. Section 273.2(j). |
|
|
(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the maximum |
|
|
amount of the fair market value of a motor vehicle described by |
|
|
Subsection (a) that may be excluded from an applicant's resources |
|
|
must be increased or decreased to reflect the percentage difference |
|
|
between: |
|
|
(1) the average index level set by the Bureau of Labor |
|
|
Statistics; and |
|
|
(2) the new vehicles index of the Consumer Price Index |
|
|
for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics |
|
|
or its successor index during the most recent 12-month period |
|
|
ending in June. |
|
|
(c) In calculating the maximum amount of the fair market |
|
|
value of a motor vehicle described by Subsection (a) that may be |
|
|
excluded and notwithstanding Subsection (b), the commission shall |
|
|
ensure that the maximum excluded amounts of the first household |
|
|
vehicle and each additional household vehicle remain proportionate |
|
|
to each other in the same proportion as the excluded amounts for |
|
|
those vehicles in effect on August 31, 2021. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
|
|
initial determination or recertification of eligibility of a person |
|
|
for the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, |
|
|
Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of |
|
|
this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
|
|
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
|
|
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
|
|
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
|
|
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
|
|
waiver or authorization is granted. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |