| 1 | 1 | | 89R888 SCP-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Walle H.B. No. 740 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the eligibility of certain students enrolled in a |
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| 10 | 10 | | postsecondary educational institution for supplemental nutrition |
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| 11 | 11 | | assistance program benefits. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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| 14 | 14 | | is amended by adding Section 33.020 to read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 33.020. SNAP ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN STUDENTS ENROLLED |
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| 16 | 16 | | IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) In this section, |
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| 17 | 17 | | "postsecondary educational institution" includes: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) an institution of higher education or a private or |
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| 19 | 19 | | independent institution of higher education, as those terms are |
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| 20 | 20 | | defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) a career school or college, as defined by Section |
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| 22 | 22 | | 132.001, Education Code. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules consistent |
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| 24 | 24 | | with federal law to provide supplemental nutrition assistance |
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| 25 | 25 | | program benefits to students enrolled in a postsecondary |
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| 26 | 26 | | educational institution. The rules must: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (1) identify the types of postsecondary degrees or |
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| 28 | 28 | | programs in which a student must be enrolled to qualify for the |
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| 29 | 29 | | benefits, including participation in any work placement or unpaid |
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| 30 | 30 | | internship associated with a postsecondary educational |
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| 31 | 31 | | institution; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) ensure a student remains eligible for the benefits |
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| 33 | 33 | | during a break in the semester or academic term of the postsecondary |
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| 34 | 34 | | educational institution in which the student is enrolled. |
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| 35 | 35 | | (c) The executive commissioner shall establish a work group |
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| 36 | 36 | | to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (b). In |
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| 37 | 37 | | adopting the rules, the executive commissioner shall consider the |
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| 38 | 38 | | work group's input. |
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| 39 | 39 | | (d) The work group must be composed of at least 9 but not |
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| 40 | 40 | | more than 13 members who are representatives of: |
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| 41 | 41 | | (1) postsecondary educational institutions; or |
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| 42 | 42 | | (2) nonprofit organizations that serve low-income |
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| 43 | 43 | | individuals, as defined by the executive commissioner. |
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| 44 | 44 | | (e) The executive commissioner shall: |
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| 45 | 45 | | (1) ensure work group members represent various types |
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| 46 | 46 | | of postsecondary educational institutions located throughout this |
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| 47 | 47 | | state; and |
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| 48 | 48 | | (2) appoint one work group member to serve as |
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| 49 | 49 | | presiding officer. |
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| 50 | 50 | | (f) The work group is automatically abolished on the |
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| 51 | 51 | | adoption of rules under Subsection (b). |
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| 52 | 52 | | (g) Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) and this subsection |
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| 53 | 53 | | expire September 1, 2027. |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2025, the |
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| 55 | 55 | | executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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| 56 | 56 | | shall establish the work group required by Section 33.020, Human |
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| 57 | 57 | | Resources Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 58 | 58 | | (b) Not later than December 31, 2026, the executive |
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| 59 | 59 | | commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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| 60 | 60 | | adopt the rules required by Section 33.020, Human Resources Code, |
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| 61 | 61 | | as added by this Act. |
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| 62 | 62 | | SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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| 63 | 63 | | a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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| 64 | 64 | | federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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| 65 | 65 | | the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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| 66 | 66 | | authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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| 67 | 67 | | waiver or authorization is granted. |
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| 68 | 68 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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