88R221 MM-D
 
  By: Johnson S.B. No. 75
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance
  program benefits.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Sections 33.016 and 33.0215 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.016.  PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS FOR
  SNAP BENEFITS. (a) The commission by rule shall ensure that an
  individual whose eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance
  program benefits has been initially established or recertified
  remains eligible to receive those benefits for a period of 12
  months.
         (b)  The commission may adjust the eligibility period
  described by Subsection (a) as necessary to align an individual's
  recertification of eligibility for supplemental nutrition
  assistance program benefits with the redetermination of
  eligibility of a child residing in the same household for medical
  assistance program benefits under Chapter 32.
         (c)  This section does not apply to an individual receiving
  supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits who:
               (1)  at the time the individual's eligibility for
  benefits is initially established or recertified, expects a change
  in circumstances within six months following the establishment or
  recertification of eligibility that will make the individual
  ineligible to receive the benefits;
               (2)  is 60 years of age or older or has a disability,
  has no earned income, and resides in a household in which every
  other individual residing in the household:
                     (A)  is 60 years of age or older or has a
  disability; and
                     (B)  has no earned income; or
               (3)  resides in a household in which at least one
  individual:
                     (A)  is at least 18 years of age but younger than
  50 years of age;
                     (B)  has no dependents; and
                     (C)  does not have a disability.
         Sec. 33.0215.  ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENT OF RESOURCES
  EXCLUDED IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. (a) Subject to
  Subsection (b), the executive commissioner by rule shall adjust for
  inflation the maximum amount the commission prescribes, if any, for
  a resource excluded from the resources of an applicant's household
  for purposes of determining the applicant's eligibility for
  supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.
         (b)  Not later than October 1 of each year, the maximum
  amount of a resource described by Subsection (a) must be adjusted to
  reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
  Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or its
  successor index during the preceding 12-month period ending in
  June.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), for the initial
  adjustment under Subsection (a), the executive commissioner shall
  adjust the maximum amount the commission prescribes for an excluded
  resource to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for All
  Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics during
  each 12-month period since July 1, 2001.  This subsection expires
  October 1, 2024.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to an
  initial determination or recertification of eligibility of an
  individual 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.