Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1483 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.B. No. 1483
	1	+	By: Frank, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Perry, West) H.B. No. 1483
	2	+	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2019;
	3	+	April 15, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
	4	+	Finance; May 8, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
	5	+	Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 14, Nays 0; May 8, 2019,
	6	+	sent to printer.)
	7	+	Click here to see the committee vote
	8	+	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1483 By: Perry
2	9
3	10
	11	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	12		AN ACT
5	13		relating to a pilot program for assisting certain recipients of
6	14		public benefits to gain permanent self-sufficiency.
7	15		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	16		SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
9	17		amended by adding Section 531.02241 to read as follows:
10	18		Sec. 531.02241. PILOT PROGRAM FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF
11	19		CERTAIN PERSONS RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR SUPPLEMENTAL
12	20		NUTRITION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS. (a) In this section:
13	21		(1) "Financial assistance benefits" means money
14	22		payments under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
15	23		program operated under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or under
16	24		the state temporary assistance and support services program
17	25		operated under Chapter 34, Human Resources Code.
18	26		(2) "Self-sufficiency" means being employed in a
19	27		position that pays a sufficient wage, having financial savings in
20	28		an amount that is equal to at least $1,000 per member of a family's
21	29		household, and maintaining a debt-to-income ratio that does not
22	30		exceed 43 percent.
23	31		(3) "Slow reduction scale" means a graduated plan for
24	32		reducing financial assistance or supplemental nutrition assistance
25	33		benefits that correlates with a phase of the pilot program's
26	34		progressive stages toward self-sufficiency.
27	35		(4) "Sufficient wage" means an amount of money,
28	36		determined by a market-based calculation that uses geographically
29	37		specific expenditure data, that is sufficient to meet a family's
30	38		minimum necessary spending on basic needs, including food, child
31	39		care, health insurance, housing, and transportation.
32	40		(5) "Supplemental nutrition assistance benefits"
33	41		means money payments under the supplemental nutrition assistance
34	42		program operated under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code.
35	43		(b) The commission shall develop and implement a pilot
36	44		program for assisting not more than 500 eligible families to gain
37	45		permanent self-sufficiency and no longer require financial
38	46		assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance, or other
39	47		means-tested public benefits, notwithstanding the limitations and
40	48		requirements of Section 31.043, Human Resources Code. If the
41	49		number of families participating in the program during a year
42	50		reaches capacity for that year as determined by the commission, the
43	51		number of families that may be served under the program in the
44	52		following year may be increased by 20 percent.
45	53		(c) The pilot program will test extending, for at least 24
46	54		months but not more than 60 months, financial assistance and
47	55		supplemental nutrition assistance benefits by waiving the
48	56		application of income and asset limit eligibility requirements for
49	57		those benefits and the time limits under Section 31.0065, Human
50	58		Resources Code, for financial assistance benefits to allow for
51	59		continuation of financial assistance and supplemental nutrition
52	60		assistance benefits and reduction of the benefits using a slow
53	61		reduction scale. The commission shall freeze a participating
54	62		family's eligibility status for the benefits beginning on the date
55	63		the participating family enters the pilot program and ending on the
56	64		date the family ceases participating in the program. The waiver of
57	65		the application of any asset limit requirement must allow the
58	66		family to have assets in an amount that is at least $1,000 per
59	67		member of the family's household.
60	68		(d) The pilot program must be designed to allow social
61	69		services providers, public benefit offices, and other community
62	70		partners to refer potential participating families to the program.
63	71		(e) A family is eligible to participate in the pilot program
64	72		established under this section if the family:
65	73		(1) includes one or more members who are recipients of
66	74		financial assistance or supplemental nutrition assistance
67	75		benefits, at least one of whom is:
68	76		(A) at least 18 but not more than 62 years of age;
69	77		and
70	78		(B) willing, and physically and legally able, to
71	79		be employed; and
72	80		(2) has a total household income that is less than a
73	81		sufficient wage based on the family's makeup and geographical area
74	82		of residence.
75	83		(f) The pilot program must be designed to assist eligible
76	84		participating families in attaining self-sufficiency by:
77	85		(1) identifying eligibility requirements for the
78	86		continuation of financial assistance or supplemental nutrition
79	87		assistance benefits and time limits for the benefits, the
80	88		application of which may be waived for a limited period and that, if
81	89		applied, would impede self-sufficiency;
82	90		(2) implementing strategies, including waiving the
83	91		application of the eligibility requirements and time limits
84	92		identified in Subdivision (1), to remove barriers to
85	93		self-sufficiency; and
86	94		(3) moving eligible participating families through
87	95		progressive stages toward self-sufficiency that include the
88	96		following phases:
89	97		(A) an initial phase in which a family moves out
90	98		of an emergent crisis by securing housing, medical care, and
91	99		financial assistance and supplemental nutrition assistance
92	100		benefits, as necessary;
93	101		(B) a second phase in which:
94	102		(i) the family moves toward stability by
95	103		securing employment and, if necessary, child care and by
96	104		participating in services that build the financial management
97	105		skills necessary to meet financial goals; and
98	106		(ii) the family's financial assistance and
99	107		supplemental nutrition assistance benefits are reduced according
100	108		to the following scale:
101	109		(a) on reaching 25 percent of the
102	110		family's sufficient wage, the amount of benefits is reduced by 10
103	111		percent;
104	112		(b) on reaching 50 percent of the
105	113		family's sufficient wage, the amount of benefits is reduced by 25
106	114		percent; and
107	115		(c) on reaching 75 percent of the
108	116		family's sufficient wage, the amount of benefits is reduced by 50
109	117		percent;
110	118		(C) a third phase in which the family:
111	119		(i) transitions to self-sufficiency by
112	120		securing employment that pays a sufficient wage, reducing debt, and
113	121		building savings; and
114	122		(ii) becomes ineligible for financial
115	123		assistance and supplemental nutrition assistance benefits on
116	124		reaching 100 percent of the family's sufficient wage; and
117	125		(D) a final phase in which the family attains
118	126		self-sufficiency by retaining employment that pays a sufficient
119	127		wage, amassing at least $1,000 per member of the family's
120	128		household, and having manageable debt so that the family will no
121	129		longer be dependent on financial assistance, supplemental
122	130		nutrition assistance, or other means-tested public benefits for at
123	131		least six months following the date the family stops participating
124	132		in the program.
125	133		(g) A person from a family that wishes to participate in the
126	134		pilot program must attend an in-person intake meeting with a
127	135		program case manager. During the intake meeting the case manager
128	136		shall:
129	137		(1) determine whether:
130	138		(A) the person's family meets the eligibility
131	139		requirements under Subsection (e); and
132	140		(B) the application of income or asset limit
133	141		eligibility requirements for continuation of financial assistance
134	142		and supplemental nutrition assistance benefits and the time limits
135	143		under Section 31.0065, Human Resources Code, for financial
136	144		assistance benefits may be waived under the program;
137	145		(2) review the family's demographic information and
138	146		household financial budget;
139	147		(3) assess the family members' current financial and
140	148		career situations;
141	149		(4) collaborate with the person to develop and
142	150		implement strategies for removing barriers to the family attaining
143	151		self-sufficiency, including waiving the application of income and
144	152		asset limit eligibility requirements and time limits described by
145	153		Subdivision (1)(B) to allow for continuation of financial
146	154		assistance and supplemental nutrition assistance benefits; and
147	155		(5) if the person's family is determined to be eligible
148	156		for and chooses to participate in the program, schedule a follow-up
149	157		meeting to further assess the family's crisis, review available
150	158		referral services, and create a service plan.
151	159		(h) A participating family must be assigned a program case
152	160		manager who shall:
153	161		(1) if the family is determined to be eligible,
154	162		provide the family with a verification of the waived application of
155	163		asset, income, and time limits described by Subsection (c),
156	164		allowing the family to continue receiving financial assistance and
157	165		supplemental nutrition assistance benefits on a slow reduction
158	166		scale;
159	167		(2) assess, at the follow-up meeting scheduled under
160	168		Subsection (g)(5), the family's crisis, review available referral
161	169		services, and create a service plan; and
162	170		(3) during the initial phase of the program, create
163	171		medium- and long-term goals consistent with the strategies
164	172		developed under Subsection (g)(4).
165	173		(i) The pilot program must provide each participating
166	174		family placed in the research group described by Subsection
167	175		(j)(3)(C) with holistic, wraparound case management services that
168	176		meet all applicable program requirements under 7 C.F.R. Section
169	177		273.7(e) or 45 C.F.R. Section 261.10, as applicable. Case
170	178		management services provided under this subsection must include the
171	179		strategic use of financial assistance and supplemental nutrition
172	180		assistance benefits to ensure that the goals included in the
173	181		family's service plan are achieved. The wraparound case management
174	182		services must be provided through a community-based provider.
175	183		(j) The pilot program must operate for at least 24 months.
176	184		The program shall also include 16 additional months for:
177	185		(1) planning and designing the program before the
178	186		program begins operation;
179	187		(2) recruiting eligible families to participate in the
180	188		program;
181	189		(3) randomly placing each participating family in one
182	190		of at least three research groups, including:
183	191		(A) a control group;
184	192		(B) a group consisting of families for whom the
185	193		application of income, asset, and time limits described by
186	194		Subsection (c) is waived; and
187	195		(C) a group consisting of families for whom the
188	196		application of income, asset, and time limits described by
189	197		Subsection (c) is waived and who receive wraparound case management
190	198		services under the program; and
191	199		(4) after the program begins operation, collecting and
192	200		sharing data that allows for:
193	201		(A) obtaining participating families'
194	202		eligibility and identification data before a family is randomly
195	203		placed in a research group under Subdivision (3);
196	204		(B) conducting surveys or interviews of
197	205		participating families to obtain information that is not contained
198	206		in records related to a family's eligibility for financial
199	207		assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance, or other
200	208		means-tested public benefits;
201	209		(C) providing quarterly reports for not more than
202	210		60 months after a participating family is enrolled in the pilot
203	211		program regarding the program's effect on the family's labor market
204	212		participation and income and need for means-tested public benefits;
205	213		(D) assessing the interaction of the program's
206	214		components with the desired outcomes of the program using data
207	215		collected during the program and data obtained from state agencies
208	216		concerning means-tested public benefits; and
209	217		(E) a third party to conduct a rigorous
210	218		experimental impact evaluation of the pilot program.
211	219		(k) The commission shall develop and implement the pilot
212	220		program with the assistance of the Texas Workforce Commission,
213	221		local workforce development boards, faith-based and other relevant
214	222		public or private organizations, and any other entity or person the
215	223		commission determines appropriate.
216	224		(l) The commission shall monitor and evaluate the pilot
217	225		program in a manner that allows for promoting research-informed
218	226		results of the program.
219	227		(m) On the conclusion of the pilot program but not later
220	228		than 48 months following the date the last participating family is
221	229		enrolled in the program, the commission shall report to the
222	230		legislature on the results of the program. The report must include:
223	231		(1) an evaluation of the program's effect on
224	232		participating families in achieving self-sufficiency and no longer
225	233		requiring means-tested public benefits;
226	234		(2) the impact to this state on the costs of the
227	235		financial assistance and supplemental nutrition assistance
228	236		programs and of the child-care services program operated by the
229	237		Texas Workforce Commission;
230	238		(3) a cost-benefit analysis of the program; and
231	239		(4) recommendations on the feasibility and
232	240		continuation of the program.
233	241		(n) During the operation of the pilot program, the
234	242		commission shall provide to the legislature additional reports
235	243		concerning the program that the commission determines to be
236	244		appropriate.
237	245		(o) The executive commissioner and the Texas Workforce
238	246		Commission may adopt rules to implement this section.
239	247		(p) This section expires September 1, 2026.
240	248		SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission is
241	249		required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
242	250		legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
243	251		the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
244	252		purpose, the commission may, but is not required to, implement a
245	253		provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
246	254		purpose.
247	255		SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
248	256		a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
249	257		federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
250	258		the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
251	259		authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
252	260		waiver or authorization is granted.
253	261		SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
254	262		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
255	263		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
256	264		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
257	265		Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
258		-	______________________________ ______________________________
259		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
260		-	I certify that H.B. No. 1483 was passed by the House on April
261		-	9, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, 1 present, not
262		-	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
263		-	No. 1483 on May 15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0,
264		-	2 present, not voting.
265		-	______________________________
266		-	Chief Clerk of the House
267		-	I certify that H.B. No. 1483 was passed by the Senate, with
268		-	amendments, on May 13, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
269		-	0.
270		-	______________________________
271		-	Secretary of the Senate
272		-	APPROVED: __________________
273		-	Date
274		-	__________________
275		-	Governor
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