Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1138 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 05/31/2021

                            S.B. No. 1138


 AN ACT
 relating to a study on streamlining public safety net programs to
 reduce costs and improve outcomes for recipients under the
 programs.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
 (1)  "Board" means the Legislative Budget Board.
 (2)  "Safety net program" means any needs-based state
 or federal program that provides food, medical, or financial
 assistance to a recipient under the program, including:
 (A)  the child health plan program under Chapter
 62, Health and Safety Code;
 (B)  the financial assistance program under
 Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
 (C)  the medical assistance program under Chapter
 32, Human Resources Code;
 (D)  the supplemental nutrition assistance
 program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code;
 (E)  the federal special supplemental nutrition
 program for women, infants, and children authorized by 42 U.S.C.
 Section 1786;
 (F)  the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program
 administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community
 Affairs in accordance with the federal Low-Income Home Energy
 Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. Section 8621 et seq.); and
 (G)  the child care services program operated by
 the Texas Workforce Commission.
 SECTION 2.  STUDY OF SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. (a)  The board, in
 coordination with the Health and Human Services Commission and
 other applicable state agencies, shall conduct a study on safety
 net programs available in this state during the five-year period
 preceding the effective date of this Act for the purposes of:
 (1)  streamlining program eligibility requirements,
 resources, and benefits;
 (2)  improving outcomes for recipients under the
 programs; and
 (3)  reducing costs to taxpayers.
 (b)  The study must include:
 (1)  an examination of:
 (A)  the total amount of:
 (i)  taxpayer revenue spent per safety net
 program;
 (ii)  state money appropriated per program;
 and
 (iii)  federal money received per program;
 (B)  benefits provided under each program;
 (C)  the number of recipients enrolled in or
 otherwise receiving benefits under each program;
 (D)  aggregate demographic and socioeconomic
 information on recipients under each program including information
 relating to:
 (i)  the average household income of
 recipients under each program;
 (ii)  the employment status of recipients
 or, if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
 recipients, under each program;
 (iii)  the marital status of recipients or,
 if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
 recipients, under each program; and
 (iv)  the average number of dependents in
 recipient households under each program;
 (E)  duplicative services and administrative
 activities among programs;
 (F)  the percentage of state money appropriated to
 each program that is directly spent on providing benefits to
 recipients under the program and the percentage that is spent on
 staff and other administrative costs;
 (G)  the percentage of recipients who become
 ineligible for each program because the recipient no longer meets
 the income eligibility requirements;
 (H)  the number of individuals who begin, but do
 not complete, an application for benefits under each program and a
 statement of that number as a percentage of the overall number of
 recipients under each program;
 (I)  the rate at which former recipients of each
 program later reapply for benefits under the program; and
 (J)  the average length of time between an initial
 application for benefits and approval under each program;
 (2)  a cost-benefit analysis that compares the costs of
 providing each program with the program's effectiveness at
 transitioning recipients to self-sufficiency; and
 (3)  a statistical analysis of the data collected under
 Subdivisions (1) and (2).
 (c)  The board shall collect any information necessary to
 conduct the study from each state agency that administers or
 operates a safety net program.  At the request of the board, each
 agency shall submit the requested information to the board within a
 reasonable time, as prescribed by the board.
 (d)  The board shall conduct the study and prepare the report
 required by Section 3 of this Act using existing resources.
 SECTION 3.  REPORT ON SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. Not later than
 September 1, 2022, the board shall:
 (1)  submit a report on the board's findings and
 recommendations to the legislature, including recommendations on
 how to:
 (A)  simplify and streamline each safety net
 program;
 (B)  improve outcomes of each program; and
 (C)  lower costs to taxpayers for safety net
 programs; and
 (2)  post the report on the board's Internet website.
 SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2023.
 SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2021.
 ______________________________ ______________________________
 President of the Senate Speaker of the House
 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1138 passed the Senate on
 April 27, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;
 May 25, 2021, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
 requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 27, 2021, House
 granted request of the Senate; May 30, 2021, Senate adopted
 Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,
 Nays 0.
 ______________________________
 Secretary of the Senate
 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1138 passed the House, with
 amendments, on May 13, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 89,
 Nays 57, two present not voting; May 27, 2021, House granted
 request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
 May 29, 2021, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
 following vote:  Yeas 85, Nays 53, one present not voting.
 ______________________________
 Chief Clerk of the House
 Approved:
 ______________________________
 Date
 ______________________________
 Governor