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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 12, 2021
TO:
Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB945 by Romero, Jr. (Relating to the period of eligibility of certain persons for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would amend Chapter 33 of the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to approve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits certification and recertification for certain persons for a period of 12 months and would allow HHSC to align the SNAP certification period with the Medicaid certification period of a child who resides in the same household. Currently, HHSC assigns households a certification period based on their eligibility and the predictability of their circumstances, up to six months. SNAP federal regulations allow states the option to implement a 12-month certification period for households without an elderly or disabled member so long as the household files a periodic form notifying the state administering agency of any changes in status.
HHSC does not currently align SNAP recertification with children's Medicaid recertification. Medicaid coverage may be renewed once every 12 months. HHSC has the option to extend a households SNAP certification and must notify the household of the new ending date.
This analysis assumes there would be minimal costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill that could be absorbed within current resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.