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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electronic benefits transfer cards used for recipients |
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of benefits under certain assistance programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0911 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0911. PHOTOGRAPH AND OTHER INFORMATION ON CERTAIN |
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ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER CARDS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Financial assistance program" means the |
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financial assistance program established under Chapter 31, Human |
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Resources Code. |
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(2) "Recipient" means a person who receives benefits |
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under the financial assistance program or the supplemental |
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nutrition assistance program. |
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(3) "Supplemental nutrition assistance program" has |
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the meaning assigned by Section 33.0005, Human Resources Code. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the commission shall ensure |
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that the front side of each electronic benefits transfer card used |
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by a recipient, or other person authorized on the recipient's |
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account, for purposes of receiving benefits under the financial |
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assistance program or the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program displays: |
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(1) the name and photograph of the recipient or other |
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authorized person, as appropriate; |
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(2) the words "Fraud Hotline" followed by the |
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telephone number of the commission's toll-free hotline for |
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reporting suspected fraud required under Section 531.108(b)(2); |
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and |
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(3) the Internet website address maintained by the |
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commission for the purpose of allowing persons to report suspected |
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fraud in either the financial assistance program or the |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program. |
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(c) A recipient, or other person authorized on the |
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recipient's account, as appropriate, is exempt from the photograph |
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requirement imposed by Subsection (b) if the person is: |
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(1) 65 years of age or older; |
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(2) younger than 19 years of age; |
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(3) blind; |
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(4) disabled; or |
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(5) a victim of domestic violence. |
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(d) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to |
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implement Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 531.0911, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission |
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is not required to issue electronic benefits transfer cards that |
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comply with that section until September 1, 2018, but is required to |
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begin issuing cards that comply with that section beginning on that |
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date. The commission shall ensure that on or before August 31, 2020, |
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each electronic benefits transfer card used to deliver benefits to |
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recipients under the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, |
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Human Resources Code, or the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, conforms to Section |
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531.0911, Government Code, as added by 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, 2017. |