| 1 | 1 | | 88R4429 SCP-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Walle H.B. No. 1501 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the eligibility of certain students enrolled in a |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | postsecondary educational institution for the supplemental |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | nutrition assistance program. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | is amended by adding Section 33.020 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 33.020. SNAP ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN STUDENTS ENROLLED |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) In this section, |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | "postsecondary educational institution" includes: |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (1) an institution of higher education or a private or |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | independent institution of higher education as defined by Section |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | 61.003, Education Code; and |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (2) a career school or college as defined by Section |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | 132.001, Education Code. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules consistent |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | with federal law to provide supplemental nutrition assistance |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | benefits to students enrolled in a postsecondary educational |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | institution. The rules must: |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (1) identify the types of postsecondary degrees or |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | programs in which a student must be enrolled to qualify for |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, including |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | participation in any work placement or unpaid internship associated |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | with a postsecondary educational institution; and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (2) ensure a student remains eligible for supplemental |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | nutrition assistance benefits during a break in the semester or |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | academic term of the postsecondary educational institution in which |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | the student is enrolled. |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (c) The executive commissioner shall establish a work group |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (b). In |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | adopting the rules, the executive commissioner shall consider the |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | work group's input. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (d) The work group is composed of at least 9 but not more |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | than 13 members who are representatives of postsecondary |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | educational institutions or nonprofit organizations that serve |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | low-income individuals. The executive commissioner shall ensure |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | members of the work group represent various types of postsecondary |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | educational institutions located throughout this state. The |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | executive commissioner shall appoint one work group member to serve |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | as presiding officer. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (e) The work group is automatically abolished on the |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | adoption of rules under Subsection (b). |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | (f) Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and this subsection expire |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | September 1, 2025. |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2023, the |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | shall establish the work group required by Section 33.020, Human |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Resources Code, as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | (b) Not later than December 31, 2024, the executive |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | adopt the rules required by Section 33.020, Human Resources Code, |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | waiver or authorization is granted. |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|