Bill Text: TX HB820 | 2025-2026 | 89th 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 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB820 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB820-Introduced.html
| 89R2981 SCF-D | ||
| By: Howard | H.B. No. 820 | |
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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 commission shall, as authorized under 7 U.S.C. | ||
| Section 2015(o)(6), provide an exemption from work requirements to | ||
| provide supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to an | ||
| individual who is enrolled at least half-time as a student in a | ||
| postsecondary educational institution and: | ||
| (1) is eligible to participate in a state or federally | ||
| funded work study program during the regular academic year, as | ||
| determined by the postsecondary educational institution; or | ||
| (2) in the current academic year, has an expected | ||
| family contribution of $0, as determined in accordance with Part F, | ||
| Title IV, of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section | ||
| 1087kk et seq.). | ||
| (c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to | ||
| implement this section, including rules that 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. | ||
| SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
| of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human | ||
| Services Commission shall adopt the rules necessary to implement | ||
| Section 33.020, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 33.020, Human Resources Code, as added | ||
| by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or | ||
| recertification of eligibility for the supplemental nutrition | ||
| assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, that is | ||
| made on or after the effective date of this Act. A determination or | ||
| recertification made before the effective date of this Act is | ||
| governed by the law in effect on the date the determination or | ||
| recertification was made, and the former law is continued in effect | ||
| for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
