H.B. No. 2718
AN ACT
relating to a program to allow faith- and community-based
organizations to offer supplemental assistance to certain
recipients of public assistance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.02482 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.02482. FAITH- AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN PERSONS RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. (a) In
this section, "community-based organization" and "faith-based
organization" have the meanings assigned by Section 535.001.
(b) The commission shall establish a program under which
faith- and community-based organizations may, on the request of the
applicant, contact and offer supplemental assistance to an
applicant for benefits under:
(1) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31,
Human Resources Code;
(2) the medical assistance program under Chapter 32,
Human Resources Code;
(3) the supplemental nutrition assistance program
under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; or
(4) the child health plan program under Chapter 62,
Health and Safety Code.
(c) At the time of application for benefits described by
Subsection (b), an applicant must:
(1) be informed about and given the opportunity to
enroll in the program; and
(2) be informed that enrolling in the program will not
affect the person's eligibility for benefits.
(d) The commission shall develop a procedure under which
faith- and community-based organizations may apply to participate
in the program.
(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to
implement the program established under this section, including
rules that:
(1) describe the types of faith- and community-based
organizations that may apply to participate in the program and the
qualifications and standards of service required of a participating
organization;
(2) facilitate contact between a person who enrolls in
the program and a faith- and community-based organization
participating in the program that provides supplemental services
that may be of assistance to the person;
(3) establish processes for the suspension,
revocation, and periodic renewal of an organization's
participation in the program, as appropriate;
(4) establish methods to ensure the confidentiality
and appropriate use of applicant information shared with a
participating organization; and
(5) permit a person enrolled in the program to
terminate the person's enrollment in the program.
(f) In establishing the program, the commission may solicit
expertise and assistance from interested persons, including faith-
and community-based organizations, and may establish a temporary
work group to provide input and assistance. This subsection
expires, and any work group established under this subsection is
abolished, September 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement
the changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2016.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2718 was passed by the House on April
21, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2718 on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2718 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 24, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor