81R10251 KLA-D
By: Naishtat H.B. No. 2625
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to financial assistance provided to certain persons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.003, Human Resources Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
(d) During the state fiscal year beginning September 1,
2009, the one-time emergency assistance payment made to an
applicant for financial assistance who is eligible for, but opts to
not receive, financial assistance must be in the amount of $1,500.
This subsection expires September 1, 2010.
(e) In addition to any other financial assistance payments
made, the Health and Human Services Commission shall provide a
one-time supplemental assistance payment of $500 to each applicant
for financial assistance who is determined eligible for and begins
receiving that assistance for the person and the person's family
during the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2009, and to
each person whose eligibility for financial assistance provided to
or for the person and the person's family is recertified during the
state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2009. This subsection
expires September 1, 2010.
SECTION 2. Section 31.0032, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), during the state fiscal
year beginning September 1, 2009, the Health and Human Services
Commission may not apply or continue to apply a sanction
terminating financial assistance as required by that subsection if,
during the month in which that sanction would be applied, the
unemployment rate in this state exceeds five percent. The
commission shall instead apply as a sanction during that month a
reduction of $25 in the total amount of financial assistance that
would be provided under this chapter to or for a person and the
person's family if no sanction were applied. This subsection
expires September 1, 2010.
SECTION 3. Section 31.0041, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), supplemental
financial assistance provided to a person under Subsection (b)
during the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2009, must be in
the amount of $1,500. This subsection expires September 1, 2010.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply to:
(1) a person who applies for financial assistance
under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on or after the effective
date of this Act; and
(2) a person who receives financial assistance for the
person or the person's family on or after the effective date of this
Act, regardless of whether the person's eligibility for that
assistance was determined before, on, or after the effective date
of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.