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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the exclusion of certain resources in determining |
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eligibility for financial assistance and supplemental nutrition |
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assistance program benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.032(d), Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) In determining whether an applicant is eligible for |
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assistance, the commission shall exclude from the applicant's |
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available resources: |
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(1) $5,000 [$1,000] for the applicant's household, |
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including a household in which there is a person with a disability |
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or a person who is at least 60 years of age; and |
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(2) each [the fair market value of the applicant's |
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ownership interest in a] motor vehicle in which the applicant or a |
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member of the applicant's household has an ownership interest[, but |
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not more than $5,000 plus or minus an amount to be determined |
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annually beginning on October 1, 1997, to reflect changes in the new |
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car component of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers |
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published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.021. EXCLUSION OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN DETERMINING |
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SNAP ELIGIBILITY. In determining the eligibility of an applicant |
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for or recertifying the eligibility of a recipient of supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program benefits, the commission shall |
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exclude from the applicant's available resources each motor vehicle |
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in which the applicant or recipient or a member of the applicant's |
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or recipient's household has an ownership interest. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to: |
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(1) an initial determination or redetermination of |
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eligibility of a person for financial assistance under Chapter 31, |
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Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of |
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this Act; and |
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(2) an initial determination or recertification of |
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eligibility of a person for the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, that is made on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |