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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedures for establishing and recertifying a person's |
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eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 33.015, Human Resources |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.015. INITIAL ESTABLISHMENT AND RECERTIFICATION OF |
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ELIGIBILITY BY TELEPHONE [FOR CERTAIN PERSONS]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 33.015(a) and (d), Human Resources |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In administering the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program, the commission shall, except as provided by [Subsection |
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(c) and] Section 33.019, allow a person to comply with initial |
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eligibility requirements, including any initial interview, and |
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with subsequent periodic eligibility recertification requirements |
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by telephone instead of through a personal appearance at commission |
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offices [if: |
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[(1) the person and each member of the person's |
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household: |
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[(A) have no earned income; and |
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[(B) are elderly or persons with disabilities; or |
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[(2) the person is subject to a hardship, as |
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determined by commission rule]. |
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(d) Subsection (a) does not prevent a [A] person from |
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electing [described by Subsection (a) may elect] to personally |
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appear at commission offices to establish initial eligibility or to |
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comply with periodic eligibility recertification requirements. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 33.015(b), (c), and (e), Human |
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Resources Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 4. Section 33.015, Human Resources Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or |
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recertification of eligibility for the supplemental nutrition |
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assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, that is |
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made on or after the effective date of this Act. A determination or |
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recertification made before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the determination or |
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recertification was made, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. 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 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |