Bill

HB 2718

84(R) - 2015
House Human Services
House Human Services
Health & Human Services

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Tan Parker

Bill Caption

Relating to a program to allow faith- and community-based organizations to offer supplemental assistance to certain recipients of public assistance.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 531 of the Government Code by requiring the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a program under which faith-based and community-based organizations may, on the request of the applicant, contact and offer supplemental assistance to a person applying for financial assistance program, medical assistance program, supplemental nutrition assistance program, or child health plan program benefits. At the time a person applies for benefits, they would be required to be informed of the opportunity to enroll in the newly faith-based and community-based organization program.

A person would be required to be informed of the opportunity to enroll at the time of application for the aforementioned benefits. The bill would require HHSC to develop a procedure under which faith-based and community-based organizations may apply to participate in the program. The executive commissioner would be required to adopt rules describing the types of faith-based and community-based organizations that may apply to participate in the program; facilitate contact between a person who enrolls in the program and a faith-based and community based organization participating in the program that provides supplemental services that may be of assistance to the person; and permit a person enrolled in the program established under the section to terminate the person's enrollment in the program.

If a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of a provision, the affected agency would be required to request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.

Vote Recommendation Notes

5/23/2015 update:

This bill is substantively the same as when we reported on it in its original chamber. We continue to remain neutral on HB 2718.

The second chamber sponsor is Senator Ellis.

First chamber recommendation:

Allowing faith-based groups to provide access to supplemental assistance for persons applying for benefits could potentially reduce the government’s financial burden by reducing the amount of personnel required. It could also open the door to an increased number of people applying for benefits. Due to these conflicting scenarios, we remain neutral.