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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a reimbursement program to reimburse certain |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients for the cost |
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of certain food 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. FOOD DELIVERY FEE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR |
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CERTAIN 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 appropriated money available for that purpose, the |
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commission shall develop and implement a reimbursement program |
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under which an eligible recipient may obtain financial assistance |
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in the form of reimbursement to cover the cost of delivery service |
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fees incurred by the recipient in connection with the purchase of |
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eligible food items under the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program. In implementing the reimbursement program, the commission |
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shall: |
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(1) prescribe the form and manner for an eligible |
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recipient to request reimbursement, which may require the recipient |
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to submit an application online, by mail, or in person; and |
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(2) ensure that supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits are not used to reimburse the cost of delivery |
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service fees under this section. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section, including rules that: |
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(1) establish a reimbursement methodology for |
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determining the reimbursement amount that an eligible recipient may |
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receive to cover the cost of a delivery service fee assessed in |
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connection with the purchase of eligible food items, which may |
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include limits on: |
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(A) the total reimbursement amount that an |
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eligible recipient may receive to cover the cost of the delivery |
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service fee; and |
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(B) the total number of purchases for which an |
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eligible recipient may receive reimbursement over a period of time |
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the commission specifies; and |
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(2) restrict an eligible recipient from obtaining |
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reimbursement to cover the cost of delivery of a purchase that |
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includes items that are not eligible for purchase using |
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supplemental nutrition 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, 2025. |