H.B. No. 1743
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a memorandum of understanding between the Health and
  Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice to assess the eligibility of certain inmates for
  supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits on discharge or
  release from confinement.
         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 33.0181 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.0181.  MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING
  ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN INMATES. (a)  In this
  section, "inmate" means an individual confined in a facility
  operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice.
         (b)  The commission and the Texas Department of Criminal
  Justice shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for the
  purpose of ensuring that an inmate who is likely to be eligible for
  supplemental nutrition assistance benefits on discharge or release
  on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon is assessed
  by the commission for eligibility for those benefits before the
  inmate's discharge or release.
         (c)  The memorandum of understanding required by this
  section must:
               (1)  establish a procedure through which the commission
  shall accept and process supplemental nutrition assistance program
  applications from inmates; and
               (2)  define the roles and responsibilities of each
  agency under the memorandum.
         (d)  The memorandum of understanding required by Subsection
  (b) must be tailored to achieve the goal of ensuring that an inmate
  described by Subsection (b) who is determined eligible by the
  commission for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits
  may begin receiving services under the program at the time of the
  inmate's discharge or release on parole, mandatory supervision, or
  conditional pardon.
         (e)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
  to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission and Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall enter into the memorandum of
  understanding required by Section 33.0181, Human Resources Code, as
  added by 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 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, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1743 was passed by the House on April
  21, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 127, Nays 13, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1743 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor