Bill Text: TX HB1501 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the eligibility of certain students enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-03 - Referred to Human Services [HB1501 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB1501-Introduced.html
88R4429 SCP-F | ||
By: Walle | H.B. No. 1501 |
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relating to the eligibility of certain students enrolled in a | ||
postsecondary educational institution for the supplemental | ||
nutrition assistance program. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 33.020 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 33.020. SNAP ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN STUDENTS ENROLLED | ||
IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) In this section, | ||
"postsecondary educational institution" includes: | ||
(1) an institution of higher education or a private or | ||
independent institution of higher education as defined by Section | ||
61.003, Education Code; and | ||
(2) a career school or college as defined by Section | ||
132.001, Education Code. | ||
(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules consistent | ||
with federal law to provide supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
benefits to students enrolled in a postsecondary educational | ||
institution. The rules must: | ||
(1) identify the types of postsecondary degrees or | ||
programs in which a student must be enrolled to qualify for | ||
supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, including | ||
participation in any work placement or unpaid internship associated | ||
with a postsecondary educational institution; and | ||
(2) ensure a student remains eligible for supplemental | ||
nutrition assistance benefits during a break in the semester or | ||
academic term of the postsecondary educational institution in which | ||
the student is enrolled. | ||
(c) The executive commissioner shall establish a work group | ||
to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (b). In | ||
adopting the rules, the executive commissioner shall consider the | ||
work group's input. | ||
(d) The work group is composed of at least 9 but not more | ||
than 13 members who are representatives of postsecondary | ||
educational institutions or nonprofit organizations that serve | ||
low-income individuals. The executive commissioner shall ensure | ||
members of the work group represent various types of postsecondary | ||
educational institutions located throughout this state. The | ||
executive commissioner shall appoint one work group member to serve | ||
as presiding officer. | ||
(e) The work group is automatically abolished on the | ||
adoption of rules under Subsection (b). | ||
(f) Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and this subsection expire | ||
September 1, 2025. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2023, the | ||
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission | ||
shall establish the work group required by Section 33.020, Human | ||
Resources Code, as added by this Act. | ||
(b) Not later than December 31, 2024, the executive | ||
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall | ||
adopt the rules required by Section 33.020, Human Resources Code, | ||
as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act | ||
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a | ||
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, | ||
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or | ||
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the | ||
waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |