By: Hughes, Bettencourt S.B. No. 1138
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on streamlining public safety net programs to
  reduce costs and improve outcomes for recipients under the
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
               (1)  "Board" means the Legislative Budget Board.
               (2)  "Safety net program" means any needs-based state
  or federal program that provides food, medical, or financial
  assistance to a recipient under the program, including:
                     (A)  the child health plan program under Chapter
  62, Health and Safety Code;
                     (B)  the financial assistance program under
  Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
                     (C)  the medical assistance program under Chapter
  32, Human Resources Code;
                     (D)  the supplemental nutrition assistance
  program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code;
                     (E)  the federal special supplemental nutrition
  program for women, infants, and children authorized by 42 U.S.C.
  Section 1786;
                     (F)  the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program
  administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community
  Affairs in accordance with the federal Low-Income Home Energy
  Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. Section 8621 et seq.); and
                     (G)  the child care services program operated by
  the Texas Workforce Commission.
         SECTION 2.  STUDY OF SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. (a)  The board, in
  coordination with the Health and Human Services Commission and
  other applicable state agencies, shall conduct a study on safety
  net programs available in this state during the five-year period
  preceding the effective date of this Act for the purposes of:
               (1)  streamlining program eligibility requirements,
  resources, and benefits;
               (2)  improving outcomes for recipients under the
  programs; and
               (3)  reducing costs to taxpayers.
         (b)  The study must include:
               (1)  an examination of:
                     (A)  the total amount of:
                           (i)  taxpayer revenue spent per safety net
  program;
                           (ii)  state money appropriated per program;
  and
                           (iii)  federal money received per program;
                     (B)  benefits provided under each program;
                     (C)  the number of recipients enrolled in or
  otherwise receiving benefits under each program;
                     (D)  aggregate demographic and socioeconomic
  information on recipients under each program including information
  relating to:
                           (i)  the average household income of
  recipients under each program;
                           (ii)  the employment status of recipients
  or, if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
  recipients, under each program;
                           (iii)  the marital status of recipients or,
  if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
  recipients, under each program; and
                           (iv)  the average number of dependents in
  recipient households under each program;
                     (E)  duplicative services and administrative
  activities among programs;
                     (F)  the percentage of state money appropriated to
  each program that is directly spent on providing benefits to
  recipients under the program and the percentage that is spent on
  staff and other administrative costs;
                     (G)  the percentage of recipients who become
  ineligible for each program because the recipient no longer meets
  the income eligibility requirements;
                     (H)  the number of individuals who begin, but do
  not complete, an application for benefits under each program and a
  statement of that number as a percentage of the overall number of
  recipients under each program;
                     (I)  the rate at which former recipients of each
  program later reapply for benefits under the program; and
                     (J)  the average length of time between an initial
  application for benefits and approval under each program;
               (2)  a cost-benefit analysis that compares the costs of
  providing each program with the program's effectiveness at
  transitioning recipients to self-sufficiency; and
               (3)  a statistical analysis of the data collected under
  Subdivisions (1) and (2).
         (c)  The board shall collect any information necessary to
  conduct the study from each state agency that administers or
  operates a safety net program.  At the request of the board, each
  agency shall submit the requested information to the board within a
  reasonable time, as prescribed by the board.
         (d)  The board shall conduct the study and prepare the report
  required by Section 3 of this Act using existing resources.
         SECTION 3.  REPORT ON SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. Not later than
  September 1, 2022, the board shall:
               (1)  submit a report on the board's findings and
  recommendations to the legislature, including recommendations on
  how to:
                     (A)  simplify and streamline each safety net
  program;
                     (B)  improve outcomes of each program; and
                     (C)  lower costs to taxpayers for safety net
  programs; and
               (2)  post the report on the board's Internet website.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2023.
         SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
  immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
  elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
  Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.