S.B. No. 1138

	AN ACT
	relating to a study on streamlining public safety net programs to
	reduce costs and improve outcomes for recipients under the
	programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
	(1)  "Board" means the Legislative Budget Board.
	(2)  "Safety net program" means any needs-based state
	or federal program that provides food, medical, or financial
	assistance to a recipient under the program, including:
	(A)  the child health plan program under Chapter
	62, Health and Safety Code;
	(B)  the financial assistance program under
	Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
	(C)  the medical assistance program under Chapter
	32, Human Resources Code;
	(D)  the supplemental nutrition assistance
	program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code;
	(E)  the federal special supplemental nutrition
	program for women, infants, and children authorized by 42 U.S.C.
	Section 1786;
	(F)  the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program
	administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community
	Affairs in accordance with the federal Low-Income Home Energy
	Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. Section 8621 et seq.); and
	(G)  the child care services program operated by
	the Texas Workforce Commission.
	SECTION 2.  STUDY OF SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. (a)  The board, in
	coordination with the Health and Human Services Commission and
	other applicable state agencies, shall conduct a study on safety
	net programs available in this state during the five-year period
	preceding the effective date of this Act for the purposes of:
	(1)  streamlining program eligibility requirements,
	resources, and benefits;
	(2)  improving outcomes for recipients under the
	programs; and
	(3)  reducing costs to taxpayers.
	(b)  The study must include:
	(1)  an examination of:
	(A)  the total amount of:
	(i)  taxpayer revenue spent per safety net
	program;
	(ii)  state money appropriated per program;
	and
	(iii)  federal money received per program;
	(B)  benefits provided under each program;
	(C)  the number of recipients enrolled in or
	otherwise receiving benefits under each program;
	(D)  aggregate demographic and socioeconomic
	information on recipients under each program including information
	relating to:
	(i)  the average household income of
	recipients under each program;
	(ii)  the employment status of recipients
	or, if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
	recipients, under each program;
	(iii)  the marital status of recipients or,
	if recipients are dependents, the parents or guardians of
	recipients, under each program; and
	(iv)  the average number of dependents in
	recipient households under each program;
	(E)  duplicative services and administrative
	activities among programs;
	(F)  the percentage of state money appropriated to
	each program that is directly spent on providing benefits to
	recipients under the program and the percentage that is spent on
	staff and other administrative costs;
	(G)  the percentage of recipients who become
	ineligible for each program because the recipient no longer meets
	the income eligibility requirements;
	(H)  the number of individuals who begin, but do
	not complete, an application for benefits under each program and a
	statement of that number as a percentage of the overall number of
	recipients under each program;
	(I)  the rate at which former recipients of each
	program later reapply for benefits under the program; and
	(J)  the average length of time between an initial
	application for benefits and approval under each program;
	(2)  a cost-benefit analysis that compares the costs of
	providing each program with the program's effectiveness at
	transitioning recipients to self-sufficiency; and
	(3)  a statistical analysis of the data collected under
	Subdivisions (1) and (2).
	(c)  The board shall collect any information necessary to
	conduct the study from each state agency that administers or
	operates a safety net program.  At the request of the board, each
	agency shall submit the requested information to the board within a
	reasonable time, as prescribed by the board.
	(d)  The board shall conduct the study and prepare the report
	required by Section 3 of this Act using existing resources.
	SECTION 3.  REPORT ON SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. Not later than
	September 1, 2022, the board shall:
	(1)  submit a report on the board's findings and
	recommendations to the legislature, including recommendations on
	how to:
	(A)  simplify and streamline each safety net
	program;
	(B)  improve outcomes of each program; and
	(C)  lower costs to taxpayers for safety net
	programs; and
	(2)  post the report on the board's Internet website.
	SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2023.
	SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
	Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1138 passed the Senate on
	April 27, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;
	May 25, 2021, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
	requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 27, 2021, House
	granted request of the Senate; May 30, 2021, Senate adopted
	Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,
	Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1138 passed the House, with
	amendments, on May 13, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 89,
	Nays 57, two present not voting; May 27, 2021, House granted
	request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
	May 29, 2021, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
	following vote:  Yeas 85, Nays 53, one present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor