By: Blanco, Powell  S.B. No. 1914
         (In the Senate - Filed March 12, 2021; April 1, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
  May 11, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0, one present not
  voting; May 11, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1914 By:  Powell
 
 
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.
         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.
 
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