Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB224 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 224
	1	+	By: Perry, et al. S.B. No. 224
	2	+	(Walle, Meza, Morales of Maverick, Ortega)
2	3
3	4
	5	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	6		AN ACT
5	7		relating to simplified certification and recertification
6	8		requirements for certain persons under the supplemental nutrition
7	9		assistance program.
8	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	11		SECTION 1. Section 33.015(a), Human Resources Code, is
10	12		amended to read as follows:
11	13		(a) In administering the supplemental nutrition assistance
12	14		program, the commission shall, except as provided by Subsection (c)
13	15		and Section 33.019, allow a person to comply with initial
14	16		eligibility requirements, including any initial interview, and
15	17		with subsequent periodic eligibility recertification requirements
16	18		by telephone instead of through a personal appearance at commission
17	19		offices if:
18	20		(1) the person and each member of the person's
19	21		household:
20	22		(A) have no earned income; and
21	23		(B) are elderly or persons with disabilities; or
22	24		(2) the person is subject to a hardship, as determined
23	25		by commission rule.
24	26		SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,
25	27		is amended by adding Section 33.019 to read as follows:
26	28		Sec. 33.019. SIMPLIFIED CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION
27	29		REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN SNAP APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS. (a) The
28	30		commission shall develop and implement simplified certification
29	31		and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition
30	32		assistance program benefits for an individual who:
31	33		(1) is 60 years of age or older or is a person with a
32		-	disability, as determined by commission rule;
33		-	(2) has no earned income; and
34		-	(3) resides in a household in which every individual
	34	+	disability, as determined by commission rule; and
	35	+	(2) resides in a household in which every individual
35	36		residing in the household is 60 years of age or older or is a person
36	37		with a disability, as determined by commission rule.
37	38		(b) The simplified requirements must:
38	39		(1) allow an individual described by this section to
39	40		waive recertification interview requirements;
40	41		(2) simplify and reduce the number of verification
41	42		requirements for certifying and recertifying eligibility to
42	43		receive benefits, which must include the use of a shortened
43	44		application form; and
44	45		(3) allow the individual to remain eligible for
45	46		benefits for 36 months after certification and after each
46	47		recertification.
47	48		(c) An individual described by this section is required to:
48	49		(1) submit to the commission a change reporting form
49	50		every 12 months during the 36-month eligibility period; and
50	51		(2) report to the commission, in accordance with
51	52		federal law, when the individual receives an increase in income.
52	53		(d) The commission shall, in a manner that complies with
53		-	federal law, use data matching to inform eligible individuals
54		-	described by this section who are receiving Medicaid benefits of
55		-	their eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program
56		-	benefits.
	54	+	federal law, use data matching to help enroll in the supplemental
	55	+	nutrition assistance program eligible individuals described by
	56	+	this section who are receiving Medicaid benefits. The commission
	57	+	may seek or use private funding or contract with a public or private
	58	+	entity to carry out this section.
57	59		SECTION 3. Section 33.019, Human Resources Code, as added
58	60		by this Act, applies only to an application or recertification of
59	61		eligibility of a person for supplemental nutrition assistance
60	62		program benefits submitted on or after January 1, 2022.
61	63		SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act
62	64		a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
63	65		federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
64	66		the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
65	67		authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
66	68		waiver or authorization is granted.
67	69		SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
68		-	______________________________ ______________________________
69		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
70		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 224 passed the Senate on
71		-	April 8, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
72		-	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 27, 2021, by the
73		-	following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
74		-	______________________________
75		-	Secretary of the Senate
76		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 224 passed the House, with
77		-	amendment, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 117,
78		-	Nays 28, one present not voting.
79		-	______________________________
80		-	Chief Clerk of the House
81		-	Approved:
82		-	______________________________
83		-	Date
84		-	______________________________
85		-	Governor