By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 3575
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility for supplemental financial assistance
provided to certain grandparents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.0041, Human Resources Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a), as amended by S.B. No. 219, Acts
of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, and adding
Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose,
the commission may provide supplemental financial assistance in
addition to the amount of financial assistance granted for the
support of a dependent child under Section 31.003 to a person who:
(1) is 45 years of age or older;
(2) is the grandparent of the dependent child, as
defined by Section 31.002, who lives at the person's residence;
(3) is the primary caretaker of the dependent child;
(4) has a family income that is at or below 200 percent
of the federal poverty level; and
(5) subject to Subsection (a-1), does not have
resources that exceed the amount allowed for financial assistance
under this chapter.
(a-1) Notwithstanding Section 31.032(d)(2), in determining
whether a person is eligible for supplemental financial assistance
under this section, the commission shall exclude from the person's
available resources the fair market value of the ownership interest
of the applicant or a member of the applicant's household in a motor
vehicle.
SECTION 2. Section 31.0041, Human Resources Code, as
amended by this Act, applies only to a determination of eligibility
of a person for supplemental financial assistance under that
section that is made on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.