Bill Text: TX HB2126 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the provision of employment and training services under the program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-13 - Left pending in committee [HB2126 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2126-Introduced.html
| By: Walle | H.B. No. 2126 | |
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| relating to eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
| program and the provision of employment and training services under | ||
| the 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 Sections 33.0007 and 33.021 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 33.0007. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS OF SNAP | ||
| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES. (a) The Health and Human | ||
| Services Commission shall contract with one or more third-party | ||
| service providers to provide supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
| program employment and training services. The Health and Human | ||
| Services Commission shall prioritize contracting with a | ||
| third-party service provider that: | ||
| (1) expands the types and varieties of those services | ||
| available to a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
| benefits; and | ||
| (2) has a demonstrated record of preparing individuals | ||
| for entry into workforce industries with a high demand for skilled | ||
| labor. | ||
| (b) In contracting with a third-party service provider, the | ||
| Health and Human Services Commission, shall ensure the terms of the | ||
| contract are designed in a manner that maximizes this state's | ||
| receipt of all available federal matching money for supplemental | ||
| nutrition assistance program employment and training services. | ||
| Sec. 33.021. 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: | ||
| (1) postsecondary educational institutions; or | ||
| (2) non-profit organizations serving low-income | ||
| individuals. | ||
| (e) 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. | ||
| (f) The work group is automatically abolished on the | ||
| adoption of rules under Subsection (b). | ||
| (g) Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) and this subsection | ||
| expire September 1, 2023. | ||
| SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2021, the | ||
| executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission | ||
| shall establish the work group required by Section 33.021, Human | ||
| Resources Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| (b) Not later than December 31, 2022, the executive | ||
| commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall | ||
| adopt the rules required by Section 33.021, 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, 2021. | ||
