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.