CHAPTER 34. STATE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM
HUMAN RESOURCES CODE
TITLE 2. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF
PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES
SUBTITLE C. ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
CHAPTER 34. STATE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES
PROGRAM
Sec. 34.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Related support services" means services considered under
federal law to be a component of money payments for purposes of
the financial assistance program authorized by Chapter 31.
(2) "Temporary assistance" means money payments for needy
persons authorized by this chapter.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 34.002. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE PROGRAM;
FUNDING. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission, the
department, and the Texas Workforce Commission, with the
participation of local workforce development boards, shall
jointly develop and implement a state program of temporary
assistance and related support services that is distinct from the
financial assistance program authorized by Chapter 31.
(b) Temporary assistance and related support services may be
provided under the state program only to:
(1) two-parent families; or
(2) persons residing in minimum service counties, as defined by
the Texas Workforce Commission.
(c) Temporary assistance and related support services provided
under the state program may not be funded with federal money
provided to the state for the financial assistance program
authorized by Chapter 31.
(d) If federal law is enacted that imposes work participation
rate requirements on two-parent families for purposes of the
financial assistance program under Chapter 31 that are
substantively identical to those that federal law imposes on
one-parent families for purposes of that program, the department
may, on the effective date of the federal law relating to the
work participation rate requirements for two-parent families,
provide for establishment of that recipient's eligibility for
financial assistance under Chapter 31 instead of under this
chapter in a manner that avoids disruption of benefits for which
the recipient is eligible.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1134, Sec. 1, eff.
June 20, 2003.
Sec. 34.003. RULES. (a) The Health and Human Services
Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission
shall adopt all rules necessary for implementation of the state
program, including rules regarding eligibility, work
requirements, work exemptions, time limits, and related support
services.
(b) The rules must be designed to result in a state program that
is substantively identical to the financial assistance program
authorized by Chapter 31, except to the extent that programmatic
differences are appropriate because of the populations served by
those programs and the sources of funding for those programs.
(c) The Health and Human Services Commission, the department,
and the Texas Workforce Commission shall form an interagency work
group to develop the rules required under this section. The
interagency work group shall provide for participation in
development of the rules by representatives of local workforce
development boards.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 34.004. PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO PERSONS RESIDING IN
MINIMUM SERVICE COUNTIES. The Health and Human Services
Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission
shall develop and implement procedures to:
(1) determine the date on which a person's eligibility for
temporary assistance and related support services based on
residency in a minimum service county, as defined by the Texas
Workforce Commission, will cease as a result of the county's
reclassification; and
(2) provide for establishment of that person's eligibility for
financial assistance and related support services under Chapter
31 in a manner that avoids disruption of benefits for which the
person is eligible.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 34.005. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A recipient of
temporary assistance and related support services under the state
program is eligible for medical assistance under Chapter 32 in
the same manner as a person receiving financial assistance under
Chapter 31.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 34.006. STUDY. The Texas Workforce Commission, in
collaboration with local workforce development boards and the
appropriate standing committees of the senate and house of
representatives, shall:
(1) study methods to improve the delivery of workforce services
to persons residing in minimum service counties, as defined by
the commission; and
(2) develop recommendations to improve the delivery of services
described by Subdivision (1) for inclusion in the report required
by Section 34.007.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 34.007. REPORT. The Health and Human Services Commission,
the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall monitor
implementation and operation of the state program and, not later
than September 1 of each year, jointly report to the governor,
the legislature, and the Legislative Budget Board on the status
and use of the state program.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1440, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1134, Sec. 2, eff.
June 20, 2003.