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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for and benefits under the supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program. |
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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 Sections 33.0025 and 33.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0025. SNAP QUALITY CONTROL REVIEW PROCESS. (a) In |
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accordance with federal law, including 7 U.S.C. Section 2025(c), |
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the commission shall implement a quality control review process |
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under which the commission on a monthly basis conducts a review of a |
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random sample of households which are participating in the |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program and households for which |
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participation in the program was denied, suspended, or terminated |
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to determine whether the selected households are eligible and |
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receiving the correct allotment of benefits under the program. |
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(b) For purposes of conducting the quality control review |
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process, the commission may access or use appropriate electronic |
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data sources to verify a household's eligibility for and correct |
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allotment of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program. |
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Sec. 33.020. PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS FOR |
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SNAP BENEFITS. (a) Except as provided by Section 33.019(b)(3), the |
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commission by rule shall ensure that an individual whose |
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eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits |
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has been initially established or recertified remains eligible to |
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receive those benefits for a period of 12 months. |
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(b) The commission may adjust the eligibility period |
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described by Subsection (a) as necessary to align an individual's |
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recertification of eligibility for supplemental nutrition |
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assistance program benefits with the redetermination of |
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eligibility of a child residing in the same household for medical |
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assistance benefits under Chapter 32. |
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(c) This section does not apply to an individual receiving |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits who: |
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(1) at the time the individual's eligibility for |
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benefits is initially established or recertified, expects a change |
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in circumstances within six months following the establishment or |
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recertification of eligibility that will make the individual |
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ineligible to receive the benefits; |
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(2) is 60 years of age or older or has a disability, |
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has no earned income, and resides in a household in which every |
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other individual residing in the household: |
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(A) is 60 years of age or older or has a |
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disability; and |
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(B) has no earned income; or |
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(3) resides in a household in which at least one |
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individual: |
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(A) is at least 18 years of age but younger than |
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54 years of age; |
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(B) has no dependents; and |
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(C) does not have a disability. |
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(d) During the 12-month eligibility period prescribed by |
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this section, the commission shall require that the individual |
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submit to the commission a periodic report indicating whether the |
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individual has experienced a change in income, household |
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composition, or residence. The commission shall require that the |
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individual submit the report not earlier than the fourth month and |
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not later than the sixth month after the date the individual's |
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eligibility was initially established or recertified. |
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(e) The commission may automate the processing of periodic |
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reports required under this section in which no change in |
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circumstances is reported. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
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initial determination or recertification of eligibility of an |
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individual for the supplemental nutrition assistance program under |
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Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |