87R1533 JG-D By: Goodwin H.B. No. 926 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the exclusion of certain resources in determining eligibility for financial assistance and the supplemental nutrition assistance program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 31.032(d), Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: (d) In determining whether an applicant is eligible for assistance, the commission shall exclude from the applicant's available resources: (1) $10,000 [$1,000] for the applicant's household, including a household in which there is a person with a disability or a person who is at least 60 years of age; and (2) the combined fair market value of all motor vehicles in which the applicant has an [applicant's] ownership interest, not to exceed $25,000 [in a motor vehicle, but not more than $5,000 plus or minus an amount to be determined annually beginning on October 1, 1997, to reflect changes in the new car component of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics]. SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 33.021 to read as follows: Sec. 33.021. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN RESOURCES IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. In determining the eligibility of an applicant for or recertifying the eligibility of a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, the commission shall exclude from the applicant's or recipient's available resources: (1) $10,000 for the applicant's household; and (2) the combined fair market value of all motor vehicles in which the applicant or recipient has an ownership interest, not to exceed $25,000. SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to: (1) an initial determination or redetermination of eligibility of a person for financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of this Act; and (2) an initial determination or recertification of eligibility of a person for the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.