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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing eligible supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program recipients with an additional benefit to pay certain food |
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delivery service fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.033 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.033. INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE FOOD DELIVERY BENEFIT TO |
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ELIGIBLE SNAP RECIPIENTS. (a) In this section, "eligible |
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recipient" means a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits who: |
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(1) is 65 years of age or older; or |
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(2) has a disability, as defined by the Americans with |
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Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.). |
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(b) From money appropriated for that purpose, the |
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commission shall develop and implement an initiative under which an |
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eligible recipient is provided an additional benefit that the |
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recipient may use to pay the delivery service fees incurred in |
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connection with the purchase of eligible food items under the |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program. In implementing the |
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initiative, the commission shall ensure that: |
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(1) the additional benefit is sufficient to pay any |
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reasonable delivery service fee assessed in connection with a |
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purchase of eligible food items; |
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(2) if possible, the additional benefit is provided |
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through the electronic benefit transfer card; and |
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(3) an eligible recipient is able to use the |
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additional benefit to obtain eligible food items in a timely and |
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efficient manner. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section, including rules that restrict a |
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recipient from using an additional benefit provided under this |
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section to receive delivery of a purchase that includes items that |
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are not eligible for purchase using supplemental nutrition |
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assistance benefits. |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |