Bill Text: TX SB1138 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to a study on streamlining public safety net programs to reduce costs and improve outcomes for recipients under the programs.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-16 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1138 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1138-Comm_Sub.html

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By: Hughes, et al. S.B. No. 1138
(Noble, Frank, Swanson, Shaheen, Meza)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on streamlining public safety net programs to
reduce costs and improve outcomes for recipients under the
programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Board" means the Legislative Budget Board.
(2) "Safety net program" means any needs-based state
or federal program that provides food, medical, or financial
assistance to a recipient under the program, including:
(A) the child health plan program under Chapter
62, Health and Safety Code;
(B) the financial assistance program under
Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
(C) the medical assistance program under Chapter
32, Human Resources Code;
(D) the supplemental nutrition assistance
program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code;
(E) the federal special supplemental nutrition
program for women, infants, and children authorized by 42 U.S.C.
Section 1786;
(F) the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program
administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs in accordance with the federal Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. Section 8621 et seq.); and
(G) the child care services program operated by
the Texas Workforce Commission.
SECTION 2. STUDY OF SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. (a) The board, in
coordination with the Health and Human Services Commission and
other applicable state agencies, shall conduct a study on safety
net programs available in this state during the five-year period
preceding the effective date of this Act for the purposes of:
(1) streamlining program eligibility requirements,
resources, and benefits;
(2) improving outcomes for recipients under the
programs; and
(3) reducing costs to taxpayers.
(b) The study must include:
(1) an examination of:
(A) the total amount of:
(i) taxpayer revenue spent per safety net
program;
(ii) state money appropriated per program;
and
(iii) federal money received per program;
(B) benefits provided under each program;
(C) the number of recipients enrolled in or
otherwise receiving benefits under each program;
(D) aggregate demographic and socioeconomic
information on recipients under each program including information
relating to:
(i) the average household income of
recipients under each program;
(ii) the employment status of recipients
or, if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
recipients, under each program;
(iii) the marital status of recipients or,
if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
recipients, under each program; and
(iv) the average number of dependents in
recipient households under each program;
(E) duplicative services and administrative
activities among programs;
(F) the percentage of state money appropriated to
each program that is directly spent on providing benefits to
recipients under the program and the percentage that is spent on
staff and other administrative costs;
(G) the percentage of recipients who become
ineligible for each program because the recipient no longer meets
the income eligibility requirements;
(H) the number of individuals who begin, but do
not complete, an application for benefits under each program and a
statement of that number as a percentage of the overall number of
recipients under each program;
(I) the rate at which former recipients of each
program later reapply for benefits under the program; and
(J) the average length of time between an initial
application for benefits and approval under each program;
(2) a cost-benefit analysis that compares the costs of
providing each program with the program's effectiveness at
transitioning recipients to self-sufficiency; and
(3) a statistical analysis of the data collected under
Subdivisions (1) and (2).
(c) The board shall collect any information necessary to
conduct the study from each state agency that administers or
operates a safety net program. At the request of the board, each
agency shall submit the requested information to the board within a
reasonable time, as prescribed by the board.
(d) The board shall conduct the study and prepare the report
required by Section 3 of this Act using existing resources.
SECTION 3. REPORT ON SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. Not later than
September 1, 2022, the board shall:
(1) submit a report on the board's findings and
recommendations to the legislature, including recommendations on
how to:
(A) simplify and streamline each safety net
program;
(B) improve outcomes of each program; and
(C) lower costs to taxpayers for safety net
programs; and
(2) post the report on the board's Internet website.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.