84R9544 ADM-F
By: Ellis S.B. No. 1332
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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 contact and offer
supplemental assistance to persons applying 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; and
(3) the supplemental nutrition assistance program
under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code.
(c) A person must be informed about the program and given
the opportunity to enroll at the time of application for benefits
described by Subsection (b).
(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;
(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; and
(3) permit a person enrolled in the program
established under this section to terminate the person's enrollment
in the program.
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 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.