HBA-JRA H.B. 1936 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1936 By: Christian Human Services 3/29/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, Texas penalizes individuals who qualify for Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) benefits and have been convicted of an alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor or felony by reducing their TANF benefits by $25 a month for six months. Under federal law, such individuals are permanently disqualified for TANF benefits if the conviction occurred after August 22, 1996. H.B. 1930 amends Texas law relating to financial assistance to conform to federal law. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 31.0038, as follows: Sec. 31.0038. INELIGIBILITY RESULTING FROM DRUG-RELATED FELONY CONVICTIONS. (a) Provides that a person is ineligible for financial assistance if the person is convicted of a felony or an offense that involves possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance under federal or state law for conduct occurring after August 22, 1996. (b) Requires the Texas Department of Human Services to require an applicant for financial assistance to indicate in writing whether the applicant or any member of the applicant's household has been convicted of an offense described by Subsection (a). (c) Provides that this section does not affect the eligibility for financial assistance of any other member of the household of a person ineligible as a result of a conviction of an offense described by Subsection (a) or the eligibility of a person convicted of an offense described by Subsection (a) for a federal benefit specified in 21 U.S.C. Section 862a(f) and its subsequent amendments. SECTION 2. Requires a state agency to request a waiver or authorization from a federal agency that the agency determines is necessary for implementation and authorizes that agency to delay implementation until such waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.