Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1217 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R10535 MM-D
2	2	By: Johnson S.B. No. 1217
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance
8	8	program benefits.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,
11	11	is amended by adding Sections 33.016 and 33.0215 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 33.016. PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS FOR
13	13	SNAP BENEFITS. (a) The commission by rule shall ensure that an
14	14	individual whose eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance
15	15	program benefits has been initially established or recertified
16	16	remains eligible to receive those benefits for a period of 12
17	17	months.
18	18	(b) The commission may adjust the eligibility period
19	19	described by Subsection (a) as necessary to align an individual's
20	20	recertification of eligibility for supplemental nutrition
21	21	assistance program benefits with the redetermination of
22	22	eligibility of a child residing in the same household for medical
23	23	assistance program benefits under Chapter 32.
24	24	(c) This section does not apply to an individual receiving
25	25	supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits who:
26	26	(1) at the time the individual's eligibility for
27	27	benefits is initially established or recertified, expects a change
28	28	in circumstances within six months following the establishment or
29	29	recertification of eligibility that will make the individual
30	30	ineligible to receive the benefits;
31	31	(2) is 60 years of age or older or has a disability,
32	32	has no earned income, and resides in a household in which every
33	33	other individual residing in the household:
34	34	(A) is 60 years of age or older or has a
35	35	disability; and
36	36	(B) has no earned income; or
37	37	(3) resides in a household in which at least one
38	38	individual:
39	39	(A) is at least 18 years of age but younger than
40	40	50 years of age;
41	41	(B) has no dependents; and
42	42	(C) does not have a disability.
43	43	Sec. 33.0215. ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENT OF RESOURCES
44	44	EXCLUDED IN DETERMINING SNAP ELIGIBILITY. (a) Subject to
45	45	Subsection (b), the executive commissioner by rule shall adjust for
46	46	inflation the maximum amount prescribed by the commission, if any,
47	47	for a resource excluded from the resources of an applicant's
48	48	household for purposes of determining the applicant's eligibility
49	49	for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.
50	50	(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the maximum
51	51	amount of a resource described by Subsection (a) must be adjusted to
52	52	reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
53	53	Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or its
54	54	successor index during the preceding 12-month period ending in
55	55	June.
56	56	(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), for the initial
57	57	adjustment under Subsection (a), the executive commissioner shall
58	58	adjust the maximum amount prescribed by the commission for an
59	59	excluded resource to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index
60	60	for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
61	61	during each 12-month period since July 1, 2001. This subsection
62	62	expires October 1, 2022.
63	63	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an
64	64	initial determination or recertification of eligibility of a person
65	65	for the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33,
66	66	Human Resources Code, that is made on or after the effective date of
67	67	this Act.
68	68	SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
69	69	a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
70	70	federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
71	71	the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
72	72	authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
73	73	waiver or authorization is granted.
74	74	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.