Bill Text: TX HB3628 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to establishing a process to inform certain housing assistance applicants of their potential eligibility for certain public assistance programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-16 - Referred to Human Services [HB3628 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB3628-Introduced.html

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88R12021 JG-D
By: Lalani H.B. No. 3628

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a process to inform certain housing
assistance applicants of their potential eligibility for certain
public assistance programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0555 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0555. NOTIFYING CERTAIN HOUSING APPLICANTS ABOUT
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing
and Community Affairs.
(2) "Housing choice voucher program" means the housing
choice voucher program under Section 8, United States Housing Act
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Section 1437f).
(3) "Public assistance program" includes:
(A) Medicaid;
(B) the child health plan program;
(C) the financial assistance program under
Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
(D) the nutritional assistance programs under
Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, including the supplemental
nutrition assistance program under that chapter; and
(E) other programs administered and identified
by the commission.
(b) The commission in collaboration with the department and
public housing authorities shall develop and implement a process to
screen and identify individuals and members of the individuals'
households who may be eligible for a public assistance program
based on the individual's submission of an application for
participation in the housing choice voucher program.
(c) An individual who is or has a household member who is
identified as potentially eligible for a public assistance program
must be:
(1) notified of each program for which the individual
or the individual's household member may be eligible; and
(2) provided with information on how to apply for and
obtain benefits under those programs.
(d) The commission and department shall enter into a
memorandum of understanding to implement this section. The
memorandum must specify the roles and duties of each agency with
respect to carrying out this section.
SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.