By: Raymond H.B. No. 4186
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of human services block grant
programs
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Government Code Section 2105 is amended in part
to read:
Sec. 2105.002. COMBINATION OF PROGRAMS NOT INTENDED TO
REDUCE SERVICES. The process of combining categorical federal
assistance programs into block grants should not have an overall
effect of reducing the relative proportion of services and benefits
made available to low-income individuals, elderly individuals,
individuals with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal
agricultural workers, provided that no individual who would have
received services before the categorical assistance program was
combined into a block grant shall be ineligible solely because the
program has been combined into a block grant.
Sec. 2105.005 PRIORITY TO POVERTY PROGRAMS. (a) An agency
should give priority to programs that remedy the causes and cycle of
poverty if:
(1) the alleviation of poverty is a purpose of the
block grant; and
(2) the agency has discretion over the types of
programs that may be funded with the block grant.
(b) In administering a block grant, an agency shall consult:
(1) low-income recipients;
(2) low-income intended recipients; and
(3) organizations representing low-income
individuals.
(c) To the extent consistent with the purpose of the block
grant, an agency's rules shall ensure that providers use block
grant funds to the maximum benefit of low-income recipients and
intended recipients and shall ensure, in regard to any categorical
program administered by the provider which has been combined into a
block grant, that no individual who would have been eligible to
receive services before the categorical assistance program was
combined into a block grant shall be ineligible solely because the
program has been combined into a block grant.
Sec. 2105.054. NOTICE OF HEARING. (a) An agency shall:
(1) provide notice of a public hearing regarding the
plan for a block grant not later than the 15th day before the date of
the hearing;
(2) post the notice in a conspicuous place in each
agency office;
(3) include in the notice a clear and concise
description of the matters to be considered including but not
limited to the extent of anticipated reductions or increases in
services under the block grant and a statement of the manner in
which written comments may be submitted;
(4) maintain lists of interested persons;
(5) mail notices of hearings to interested persons;
and
(6) conduct other activities necessary to promote
public participation in the public hearing.
(b) A notice prepared under this section must be printed in
English and Spanish.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017