HBA-NRS H.B. 102 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 102
By: Maxey
Human Services
8/9/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides for the use of an electronic imaging program with
adult and teen parent applicants for and recipients of financial assistance
and services from the Texas Department of Human Services. A report by the
LBJ School of Public Affairs, entitled "Lone Star Image System Evaluation:
Final Report,"found that one effect of the pilot program was to induce
temporary exits among food stamp recipients by creating undue difficulties
in the application process. House Bill 102  includes recipients of and
applicants for food stamp benefits as participants in the program and
allows an exemption from program participation for the elderly and the
disabled. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Human Services
in SECTION 1 (Section 31.0325, Human Resources Code) of this bill.  

ANALYSIS

House Bill 102 amends the Human Resources Code to include adult and teen
parent applicants for and recipients of food stamp benefits in the
electronic imaging program. The bill requires the Texas Department of Human
Services (DHS), in adopting rules, to provide for an exemption from the
program's electronic imaging requirements for a person who is elderly or
disabled if compliance would cause an undue burden to that person, and to
establish criteria for such an exemption. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 14, 2001