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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits. |
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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 Sections 33.016 and 33.0215 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.016. PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS FOR |
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SNAP BENEFITS. (a) The commission by rule shall ensure that an |
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individual whose eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits has been initially established or recertified |
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remains eligible to receive those benefits for a period of 12 |
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months. |
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(b) The commission may adjust the eligibility period |
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described by Subsection (a) as necessary to align an individual's |
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recertification of eligibility for supplemental nutrition |
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assistance program benefits with the redetermination of |
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eligibility of a child residing in the same household for medical |
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assistance program benefits under Chapter 32. |
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(c) This section does not apply to an individual receiving |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits who: |
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(1) at the time the individual's eligibility for |
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benefits is initially established or recertified, expects a change |
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in circumstances within six months following the establishment or |
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recertification of eligibility that will make the individual |
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ineligible to receive the benefits; |
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(2) is 60 years of age or older or has a disability, |
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has no earned income, and resides in a household in which every |
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other individual residing in the household: |
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(A) is 60 years of age or older or has a |
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disability; and |
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(B) has no earned income; or |
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(3) resides in a household in which at least one |
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individual: |
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(A) is at least 18 years of age but younger than |
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50 years of age; |
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(B) has no dependents; and |
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(C) does not have a disability. |
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Sec. 33.0215. ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENT OF RESOURCES |
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EXCLUDED IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. (a) Subject to |
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Subsection (b), the executive commissioner by rule shall adjust for |
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inflation the maximum amount prescribed by the commission, if any, |
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for a resource excluded from the resources of an applicant's |
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household for purposes of determining the applicant's eligibility |
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for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits. |
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(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the maximum |
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amount of a resource described by Subsection (a) must be adjusted to |
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reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban |
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Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or its |
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successor index during the preceding 12-month period ending in |
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June. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), for the initial |
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adjustment under Subsection (a), the executive commissioner shall |
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adjust the maximum amount prescribed by the commission for an |
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excluded resource to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index |
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for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics |
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during each 12-month period since July 1, 2001. This subsection |
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expires October 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
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initial determination or recertification of eligibility of a person |
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for the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, |
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Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |