1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a state program of temporary assistance
1-3 and related support services for needy persons.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Human Resources Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Chapter 34 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 34. STATE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES
1-8 PROGRAM
1-9 Sec. 34.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-10 (1) "Related support services" means services
1-11 considered under federal law to be a component of money payments
1-12 for purposes of the financial assistance program authorized by
1-13 Chapter 31.
1-14 (2) "Temporary assistance" means money payments for
1-15 needy persons authorized by this chapter.
1-16 Sec. 34.002. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE
1-17 PROGRAM; FUNDING. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission,
1-18 the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission, with the
1-19 participation of local workforce development boards, shall jointly
1-20 develop and implement a state program of temporary assistance and
1-21 related support services that is distinct from the financial
1-22 assistance program authorized by Chapter 31.
1-23 (b) Temporary assistance and related support services may be
1-24 provided under the state program only to:
2-1 (1) two-parent families; or
2-2 (2) persons residing in minimum service counties, as
2-3 defined by the Texas Workforce Commission.
2-4 (c) Temporary assistance and related support services
2-5 provided under the state program may not be funded with federal
2-6 money provided to the state for the financial assistance program
2-7 authorized by Chapter 31.
2-8 Sec. 34.003. RULES. (a) The Health and Human Services
2-9 Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission
2-10 shall adopt all rules necessary for implementation of the state
2-11 program, including rules regarding eligibility, work requirements,
2-12 work exemptions, time limits, and related support services.
2-13 (b) The rules must be designed to result in a state program
2-14 that is substantively identical to the financial assistance program
2-15 authorized by Chapter 31, except to the extent that programmatic
2-16 differences are appropriate because of the populations served by
2-17 those programs and the sources of funding for those programs.
2-18 (c) The Health and Human Services Commission, the
2-19 department, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall form an
2-20 interagency work group to develop the rules required under this
2-21 section. The interagency work group shall provide for
2-22 participation in development of the rules by representatives of
2-23 local workforce development boards.
2-24 Sec. 34.004. PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO PERSONS RESIDING IN
2-25 MINIMUM SERVICE COUNTIES. The Health and Human Services Commission,
2-26 the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall develop
2-27 and implement procedures to:
3-1 (1) determine the date on which a person's eligibility
3-2 for temporary assistance and related support services based on
3-3 residency in a minimum service county, as defined by the Texas
3-4 Workforce Commission, will cease as a result of the county's
3-5 reclassification; and
3-6 (2) provide for establishment of that person's
3-7 eligibility for financial assistance and related support services
3-8 under Chapter 31 in a manner that avoids disruption of benefits for
3-9 which the person is eligible.
3-10 Sec. 34.005. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A recipient
3-11 of temporary assistance and related support services under the
3-12 state program is eligible for medical assistance under Chapter 32
3-13 in the same manner as a person receiving financial assistance under
3-14 Chapter 31.
3-15 Sec. 34.006. STUDY. The Texas Workforce Commission, in
3-16 collaboration with local workforce development boards and the
3-17 appropriate standing committees of the senate and house of
3-18 representatives, shall:
3-19 (1) study methods to improve the delivery of workforce
3-20 services to persons residing in minimum service counties, as
3-21 defined by the commission; and
3-22 (2) develop recommendations to improve the delivery of
3-23 services described by Subdivision (1) for inclusion in the report
3-24 required by Section 34.007.
3-25 Sec. 34.007. REPORT. The Health and Human Services
3-26 Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission
3-27 shall monitor implementation and operation of the state program
4-1 and, not later than September 1 of each year, jointly report to the
4-2 governor, the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board on the
4-3 status and use of the state program. The report required to be
4-4 submitted not later than September 1, 2002, must include:
4-5 (1) an analysis of whether the state program has
4-6 effectively met the goals of the program, including improved
4-7 delivery of services to program recipients; and
4-8 (2) recommendations regarding continuation of the
4-9 program.
4-10 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 34.007, Human Resources
4-11 Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services
4-12 Commission, the Texas Department of Human Services, and the Texas
4-13 Workforce Commission shall submit the report required by that
4-14 section beginning with the report due not later than September 1,
4-15 2002.
4-16 SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act a
4-17 state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
4-18 federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
4-19 the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
4-20 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
4-21 waiver or authorization is granted.
4-22 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
4-23 SECTION 5. This Act takes expires September 2, 2003, unless
4-24 continued in existence by the legislature by that date.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1005 was passed by the House on May
3, 2001, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1005 on May 25, 2001, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1005 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 22, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor