84R1570 JSL-D
By: Perry S.B. No. 723
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to mandatory participation in certain TANF employment and
other programs by certain persons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 31.0031(a) and (d), Human Resources
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall require each adult recipient and
nonrecipient parent to sign a bill of responsibilities that defines
the responsibilities of the state and of the recipient or
nonrecipient parent, as applicable, and encourages personal
responsibility. The department shall explain to the applicant the
work requirements and time-limited benefits in addition to the
other provisions of the agreement before the applicant signs the
agreement. The department shall provide each applicant with a copy
of the signed agreement. The agreement shall include pertinent
case information, including the case number and a listing of the
state's benefits.
(d) The responsibility agreement shall require that:
(1) the parent of a dependent child cooperate with the
department and the Title IV-D agency if necessary to establish the
paternity of the dependent child and to establish or enforce child
support;
(2) if adequate and accessible providers of the
services are available in the geographic area and subject to the
availability of funds, each dependent child, as appropriate,
complete early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment
checkups on schedule and receive the immunization series prescribed
by Section 161.004, Health and Safety Code, unless the child is
exempt under that section;
(3) each adult recipient, or teen parent recipient who
has completed the requirements regarding school attendance in
Subdivision (6), not voluntarily terminate paid employment of at
least 30 hours each week without good cause in accordance with rules
adopted by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission [department];
(4) each adult recipient for whom a needs assessment
is conducted participate in an activity to enable that person to
become self-sufficient by:
(A) continuing the person's education or
becoming literate;
(B) entering a job placement or employment skills
training program;
(C) serving as a volunteer in the person's
community; or
(D) serving in a community work program or other
work program approved by the department;
(5) each caretaker relative or parent receiving
assistance not use, sell, or possess marihuana or a controlled
substance in violation of Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or
abuse alcohol;
(6) each dependent child younger than 18 years of age
or teen parent younger than 19 years of age attend school regularly,
unless the child has a high school diploma or high school
equivalency certificate or is specifically exempted from school
attendance under Section 25.086, Education Code;
(7) each recipient comply with department rules
regarding proof of school attendance; [and]
(8) each recipient or nonrecipient parent, as
applicable, attend appropriate parenting skills training classes,
as determined by a [the] needs assessment; and
(9) each nonrecipient parent, other than a
nonrecipient parent subject to Section 31.012(c) or (g), satisfy
mandatory employment or employment training requirements under
Section 31.012.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 31.012, Human Resources
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 31.012. MANDATORY WORK OR PARTICIPATION IN EMPLOYMENT
ACTIVITIES [THROUGH THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND BASIC SKILLS
PROGRAM].
SECTION 3. Section 31.012, Human Resources Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c-1) and (g) to
read as follows:
(a) The department shall require that, during any one-month
period in which an adult is receiving or the child of a nonrecipient
parent is receiving financial assistance under this chapter, the
adult or nonrecipient parent, as applicable, shall during that
period:
(1) work not less than 30 hours a week; or
(2) participate for not less than 20 hours a week in an
activity established under a Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families employment program under Part A, Title IV, Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.) [the job opportunities and basic
skills (JOBS) training program under Part F, Subchapter IV, Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 682)].
(c-1) Notwithstanding Section 531.0055, Government Code,
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission may not adopt rules that provide exceptions to a
person's required participation in work or employment activities
that are in addition to the exceptions provided by Subsections (c)
and (g).
(g) A nonrecipient parent who receives Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.
is not subject to the requirements of this section. The Texas
Workforce Commission may provide services to the nonrecipient
parent under this chapter in accordance with rules adopted by the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
SECTION 4. Sections 31.0135(a) and (b), Human Resources
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department, in cooperation with the Texas Education
Agency, the Department of Family and Protective [and Regulatory]
Services, the Texas A&M AgriLife [Agricultural] Extension Service,
or any other public or private entity, shall develop a parenting
skills training program to assist a recipient of assistance under
this chapter, including a child who receives assistance on behalf
of a dependent child, and a nonrecipient parent. The program shall
include nutrition education, budgeting and survival skills, and
instruction on the necessity of physical and emotional safety for
children.
(b) The department shall require that a caretaker relative
or parent who is receiving assistance under this chapter on behalf
of a dependent child, including a nonrecipient parent, receive
appropriate parenting skills training as needed. The training must
include one or more components of the parenting skills training
program that the department determines will be useful to the
caretaker relative or parent.
SECTION 5. Section 31.014(a), Human Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall provide financial assistance, in
accordance with [department] rules adopted by the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, to a
two-parent family if the primary wage earner parent, other than a
nonrecipient parent subject to Section 31.012(c) or (g), is
registered with a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
employment program under Part A, Title IV, Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.) [in the job opportunities and basic
skills (JOBS) training program under Part F, Subchapter IV, Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 682)], or is registered with the
Texas Workforce [Employment] Commission.
SECTION 6. Section 31.0126(c), Human Resources Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
person receiving financial assistance, including a nonrecipient
parent, as defined by Section 31.0021, Human Resources Code, on or
after the effective date of this Act, regardless of the date the
determination of eligibility for that assistance was made.
SECTION 8. 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 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.