HUMAN RESOURCES CODE

CHAPTER 34. STATE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.          


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.  
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1134, § 1, eff. June 20, 
2003.


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.          


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.          


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.          


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.          


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.  
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1134, § 2, eff. June 20, 
2003.