88R20099 SCP-D
 
  By: Guillen, Ortega, Flores, Hernandez, H.B. No. 1287
      Plesa, et al.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to 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.  INFLATION ADJUSTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE VALUE
  EXCLUDED IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. (a)  Not later than
  August 1 of each odd-numbered year, the executive commissioner
  shall:
               (1)  determine, in the manner specified by Subsection
  (c), whether 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), should be adjusted for inflation; and
               (2)  if the executive commissioner determines under
  Subdivision (1) that the maximum amount should be adjusted, submit
  to each member of the Legislative Budget Board a recommendation for
  the adjustment for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1
  of that odd-numbered year.
         (b)  Not later than September 1 of the odd-numbered year in
  which the members of the Legislative Budget Board receive a
  recommendation under Subsection (a), the board shall approve or
  deny the recommendation and provide written notice to the executive
  commissioner of the approval or denial.  The recommendation is
  considered approved if the board does not provide written notice of
  the approval or denial on or before September 1.  If the board
  denies the recommendation, the maximum amount of the fair market
  value of a motor vehicle that may be excluded from an applicant's
  household resources remains the same as the amount excluded during
  the preceding state fiscal biennium.
         (c)  If the Legislative Budget Board approves a
  recommendation for an adjustment under Subsection (b), the
  commission shall, not later than October 1 of the odd-numbered year
  for which the recommendation was made, increase or decrease for
  that state fiscal biennium beginning September 1 of that 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
  household resources 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.
         (d)  In calculating the maximum amount of the fair market
  value of a motor vehicle described by Subsection (a) that may be
  excluded from an applicant's household resources and
  notwithstanding Subsection (c), 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.
         (e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the executive
  commissioner is not required to make a determination or
  recommendation under that subsection until August 1, 2025, for the
  state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2025.
         (f)  Notwithstanding this section, not later than October 1,
  2023, and for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
  2023, the commission shall adjust for inflation in the manner
  specified by Subsection (c) 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).  In calculating the maximum amount
  under this subsection, the commission shall comply with Subsection
  (d).
         (g)  This subsection and Subsections (e) and (f) expire
  September 1, 2025.
         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, 2023.