2011 Texas Statutes
HUMAN RESOURCES CODE
TITLE 2 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES
SUBTITLE C - ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
CHAPTER 33 - NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

HUMAN RESOURCES CODE

TITLE 2. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES

SUBTITLE C. ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

CHAPTER 33. NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

SUBCHAPTER A. NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN GENERAL

Sec. 33.0005.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1)  "Department" means:

(A)  with respect to the food stamp program, the Health and Human Services Commission; and

(B)  with respect to any other nutritional assistance program or special nutrition program listed in Subdivision (3), the Health and Human Services Commission or the agency of this state that operates the program, as applicable.

(2)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, or the chief administrative officer of an agency of this state operating a nutritional assistance program, as applicable.

(3)  "Nutritional assistance program" or "special nutrition program" includes the following programs authorized by federal law that provide nutritional assistance to needy individuals in this state:

(A)  the food stamp program;

(B)  the child and adult care food program;

(C)  the summer food service program;

(D)  the food distribution program;

(E)  the emergency food assistance program; and

(F)  the commodity supplemental food program.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 963, Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 33.0006.  OPERATION OF FOOD STAMP PROGRAM. The Health and Human Services Commission operates the food stamp program.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 963, Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 33.001.  DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS COMMODITIES. (a) The department is the state agency designated to cooperate with the federal government in administering the distribution of federal surplus commodities and other resources.

(b)  The department may cooperate with a city or county in any manner necessary for the proper operation of this program.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2353, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Sec. 33.002.  DISTRIBUTION OF COMMODITIES AND FOOD STAMPS. (a) The department is responsible for the distribution of commodities and food stamps allocated to the department by the federal government.

(b)  The department may enter into agreements with federal agencies that are required as a prerequisite to the allocation of the commodities or food stamps.  The department may enter into agreements with eleemosynary institutions, schools, and other eligible agencies and recipients of the commodities and food stamps.  The department administering the distribution of federal surplus commodities and other resources may cooperate with a municipality or county as necessary to properly administer that distribution.

(c)  The department shall establish policies and rules that will ensure the widest and most efficient distribution of the commodities and food stamps to those eligible to receive them.

(d)  The department shall continually monitor the expedited issuance of food stamp benefits to ensure that each region in the state complies with federal regulations and that those households eligible for expedited issuance are identified, processed, and certified within the timeframes prescribed within the federal regulations.

(e)  The department shall screen all applicants for expedited issuance on a priority basis within one working day.  Applicants who meet the federal criteria for expedited issuance and have an immediate need for food assistance shall receive either a manual Authorization-to-Purchase card or the immediate issuance of food stamp coupons within one working day.

(f)  The department shall conspicuously post in each local food stamp office a notice of the availability of and procedure for applying for expedited issuance.

(g)  The department may, within federal limits, modify the one-day screening and service delivery requirements prescribed by Subsection (e) if the department determines that the modification is necessary to reduce fraud in the food stamp program.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2354, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 150, Sec. 4, eff. Aug. 26, 1985; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1052, Sec. 7.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, Sec. 8.09, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 693, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 963, Sec. 6, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1050, Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1083, Sec. 17, eff. June 17, 2011.

Sec. 33.0021.  APPLICATION INFORMATION. (a) The department shall develop general informational materials that contain eligibility guidelines for benefits under this chapter and that clearly and simply explain the process for applying for benefits, as well as indicate the availability of expedited food stamps, the existence of toll-free telephone hotlines, and the existence of a procedure in each region to handle complaints. These informational materials shall be nonpromotional in nature.

(b)  The materials must contain a list of the specific items necessary to verify an application.

(c)  The department shall distribute the materials to community action agencies, legal services offices, and emergency food programs and other programs likely to have contact with potential applicants.

Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 150, Sec. 5, eff. Aug. 26, 1985.

Sec. 33.0023.  FOOD STAMP INFORMATION MATCHING SYSTEM. (a) To detect and prevent fraud in the food stamp program, the department, through the use of a computerized matching system, shall compare at least semiannually department information relating to food stamp transactions and redemptions by recipients of food stamps and retailers with information obtained from the comptroller and other appropriate state agencies relating to those recipients and retailers.

(b)  The department, the comptroller, and the appropriate agencies shall take all necessary measures to protect the confidentiality of information provided under this section, in compliance with all existing state and federal privacy guidelines.

(c)  In this section, "retailer" means a business approved for participation in the food stamp program.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 322, Sec. 3, eff. May 26, 1997.

Sec. 33.003.  DISTRIBUTION DISTRICTS; AGENTS. (a) The department may establish distribution districts and employ distributing agents or may make other arrangements necessary to provide for the efficient distribution of commodities and food stamps.

(b)  A distributing agent must be bonded. The department shall audit a distributing agent's records at least once annually and at any other time considered expedient by the department.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2354, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Sec. 33.004.  ADVISORY BOARDS. (a) The department may establish state or district-level advisory boards to facilitate the operations of the commodity distribution or food stamp programs.

(b)  The advisory boards shall be of the size, membership, and experience that the executive commissioner determines to be essential for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter and not in conflict with or duplicative of other laws on this subject.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2354, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 963, Sec. 7, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 33.005.  PROCESSING PERISHABLE COMMODITIES. (a) The department may enter into nonprofit contracts with state institutions or state or private agencies for the processing of perishable commodities to preserve them for subsequent distribution to eligible recipients.

(b)  The cost of processing shall be borne by each recipient on a pro rata basis in relation to the amount of the processed commodities received by each distribution district.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2354, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Sec. 33.006.  HANDLING CHARGES. (a) The department may assess reasonable handling charges against the recipients of commodities or food stamps to cover the cost of distribution. The total operation must be conducted on a nonprofit basis.

(b)  The department shall make the assessments at the times and in the amounts that it considers necessary for the proper administration of the programs. However, the assessments must be uniform in each distribution district and may not exceed $1 per recipient per year.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2354, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 399, ch. 81, Sec. 18(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1983.

Sec. 33.007.  COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION FUND. (a) Funds received from assessments for handling charges pursuant to Section 33.006 of this code shall be paid to the department and deposited in a separate account in the state treasury subject to withdrawal on authorization of the commissioner.

(b)  The funds may be used only for necessary expenses incurred in operating the commodity distribution and food stamp programs, and their use is subject to the rules of the department, the provisions of this chapter, and the provisions of the general appropriation acts of the legislature.

(c)  If the commodity distribution program or food stamp program is terminated, funds remaining in the account after all due and just accounts have been paid shall be refunded to the contributors on a pro rata basis.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2354, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Sec. 33.008.  SALE OF USED COMMODITY CONTAINERS. The department may sell used commodity containers. Proceeds from the sales in each distribution district shall be deposited in the commodity distribution fund and used for the commodity distribution program.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2355, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Sec. 33.010.  SALE OF EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY. If the commodity distribution and/or food stamp programs are terminated, equipment and property purchased with funds from the commodity distribution fund shall be sold by competitive bids. The proceeds from the sales shall be deposited in the commodity distribution fund in each district and distributed in the manner specified by Section 33.009 of this code.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2355, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.

Sec. 33.011.  PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES; PENALTIES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly uses, alters, or transfers food stamp benefit permits in any manner not authorized by law. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the food stamp benefit permits is less than $200 and a felony of the third degree if the value of the food stamp benefit permits is $200 or more.

(b)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses food stamp benefit permits when not authorized by law to possess them, knowingly redeems food stamp benefit permits when not authorized by law to redeem them, or knowingly redeems food stamp benefit permits for purposes not authorized by law. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the food stamp benefit permits is less than $200 and a felony of the third degree if the value of the food stamp benefit permits is $200 or more.

(c)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses blank authorizations to participate in the food stamp program when not authorized by law to possess them. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree.

(d)  When cash, exchange value, or food stamp benefit permits of various values are obtained in violation of this section pursuant to one scheme or continuing course of conduct, whether from the same or several sources, the conduct may be considered as one offense and the values aggregated in determining the grade of the offense.

(e)  The department may contract with county commissioners courts to provide funds to pay for professional and support services necessary for the enforcement of any criminal offense that involves illegally obtaining, possessing, or misusing food stamps.

(f)  For the purposes of Subsections (a) and (b), the value of food stamp benefit permits is the cash or exchange value obtained in violation of this section.

(g)  In this section, "food stamp benefit permits" includes:

(1)  food stamp coupons;

(2)  electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards; and

(3)  authorizations to participate in the food stamp program.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2355, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2435, ch. 842, art. 2, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 249, Secs. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 788, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 33.012.  CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT PROGRAM AS REPRESENTATIVE. The department shall provide an individual's food stamp allotment to the residential chemical dependency treatment program in which the person resides to the extent allowed under Section 8(f), Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. Section 2017(e)), if the individual designates the program as the individual's authorized representative.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 663, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 33.013.  INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES. (a) Each local food stamp office shall compile and maintain a current list of emergency food providers in the area served by the local food stamp office and refer individuals who need food to local programs that may be able to provide assistance.

(b)  The department shall establish regional or statewide toll-free telephone hotlines to provide emergency food information and to refer needy individuals to local programs that may be able to provide assistance. The department shall publish the telephone number for referrals in the emergency telephone numbers section of local telephone books. The department shall display this telephone number in all of its offices.

(c)  Where emergency food programs do not exist, the department office shall assist community groups in establishing emergency food assistance programs.

(d)  The department may establish other local, regional, or statewide programs to provide emergency food information and referral services where needed and where none presently exist.

Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 150, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 26, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1052, Sec. 7.02, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 963, Sec. 8, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 33.015.  INITIAL ESTABLISHMENT AND RECERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) In administering the food stamp program, the department shall, except as provided by Subsection (c), allow a person to comply with initial eligibility requirements, including any initial interview, and with subsequent periodic eligibility recertification requirements by telephone instead of through a personal appearance at department offices if:

(1)  the person and each member of the person's household have no earned income and are elderly or disabled; or

(2)  the person is subject to a hardship, as determined by the department.

(b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), a hardship includes a situation in which a person is prevented from personally appearing at department offices because the person is:

(1)  subject to a work or training schedule;

(2)  subject to transportation difficulties;

(3)  subject to other difficulties arising from the person's residency in a rural area;

(4)  subject to prolonged severe weather;

(5)  ill; or

(6)  needed to care for a member of the person's household.

(c)  The department may require a person described by Subsection (a) to personally appear at department offices to establish initial eligibility or to comply with periodic eligibility recertification requirements if the department considers a personal appearance necessary to:

(1)  protect the integrity of the food stamp program; or

(2)  prevent an adverse determination regarding the person's eligibility that would be less likely to occur if the person made a personal appearance.

(d)  A person described by Subsection (a) may elect to personally appear at department offices to establish initial eligibility or to comply with periodic eligibility recertification requirements.

(e)  The department shall require a person exempted under this section from making a personal appearance at department offices to provide verification of the person's entitlement to the exemption on initial eligibility certification and on each subsequent periodic eligibility recertification. If the person does not provide verification and the department considers the verification necessary to protect the integrity of the food stamp program, the department shall initiate a fraud referral to the department's office of inspector general.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 93, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 33.022.  APPLICATION ASSISTANCE. (a) On request of an applicant, the department shall assist the applicant in filling out forms and completing the application process.

(b)  The department shall inform each applicant of the availability of assistance.

Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 150, Sec. 6, eff. Aug. 26, 1985.

Sec. 33.023.  INFORMATION VERIFICATION. (a) The department shall develop and implement for expedited issuance a uniform procedure for verifying information required of an applicant.

(b)  In developing the uniform procedure, the department shall attempt to minimize the cost and complexity of the procedure to the applicant.

(c)  The department shall not require applicants for expedited service to verify more eligibility items than the minimum necessary to conform to the federal regulations and shall assist the applicant in obtaining materials needed to verify an application. The department shall not deny or delay determination of eligibility due to lack of verification of items that may be postponed if they cannot be verified within the timeframes prescribed by the federal regulations.

(d)  The department shall post a notice in each of its offices indicating to whom an applicant or client can talk to resolve problems or complaints. This notice should indicate persons available to handle problems in local, regional, and state offices. Notification of the existence of each office and complaint procedures shall be posted in each food stamp office and in materials made available to applicants regarding the application process.

Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 150, Sec. 7, eff. Aug. 26, 1985.

Sec. 33.0231.  VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY AND PREVENTION OF DUPLICATE PARTICIPATION IN SNAP.  The department shall use appropriate technology to:

(1)  confirm the identity of applicants for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and

(2)  prevent duplicate participation in the program by a person.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 7, Sec. 1.04(b), eff. September 28, 2011.

Sec. 33.025.  NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD STAMPS. (a) The department shall develop and implement a plan of operation to provide nutrition education and outreach to persons eligible for food stamps.

(b)  The plan of operation for education and outreach shall:

(1)  ensure that low-income consumers are provided with informational materials that include but are not limited to information on:

(A)  food budgeting for low-income consumers;

(B)  purchasing and preparing low-cost nutritional meals;

(C)  basic nutrition and healthy foods;

(D)  the availability of food stamps;

(E)  the eligibility requirements for food stamps; and

(F)  the application procedures for receiving food stamps;

(2)  identify a target population for the informational activities, which may include:

(A)  recipients of the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children;

(B)  families which have children who are eligible for the free or reduced-priced meals programs;

(C)  recipients of commodity surplus foods;

(D)  senior citizens attending nutrition sites and participating in nutritional activities;

(E)  clients of emergency food pantries;

(F)  farm workers or migrants; and

(G)  others who may benefit from the information including but not limited to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and working poor families;

(3)  identify geographical areas, if any, which specifically will be targeted; and

(4)  ensure that all informational activities are multilingual and available in accessible alternative formats.

(c)  The department shall submit the plan of operation to the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for approval, making the department eligible for reimbursement for 50 percent of the cost of the informational activities.

(d)  The department shall cooperate with other state agencies that currently operate nutrition education programs.

(e)  The department shall enlist the assistance of pro bono public relations firms where available.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 328, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1993.

Sec. 33.026.  CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM: REQUIRED NOTICES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. (a) Before adopting or changing a department rule or policy relating to the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, the department shall submit the proposed action to the department's advisory committee on that program for comment, unless immediate action is required by federal law. If immediate action is required by federal law, the department shall submit the action for comment at the earliest possible date.

(b)  The department shall provide written notice to each sponsoring organization of any modification or clarification of department rules or policies relating to the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. Notice provided through electronic mail is considered to be written notice for purposes of this subsection.

(c)  The department's advisory committee on the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program may:

(1)  conduct public hearings in accordance with department procedures;

(2)  refer issues relating to the program to the board for discussion; and

(3)  recommend modifications to the department's training programs for sponsoring organizations and other persons participating in the program.

(d)  For purposes of this section and Sections 33.027 and 33.0271, "sponsoring organization" has the meaning assigned by 7 C.F.R. Section 226.2.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 719, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 870, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 33.027.  CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM: ELECTRONIC FILING. (a) In administering the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, the department shall, unless prohibited by federal law, permit a sponsoring organization or other person participating in the program to submit applications and other required information to the department in an electronic format or through the use of electronically produced forms.

(b)  The department may implement Subsection (a) by developing necessary computer systems or by using computer systems developed or made available for that purpose by a sponsoring organization or other appropriate person.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 719, Sec. 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2001.

Sec. 33.0271.  CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM:  PROGRAM PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS. (a)  In this section, "institution" and "principal" have the meanings assigned by 7 C.F.R. Section 226.2.

(b)  To the extent permitted under federal law, a sponsoring organization shall maintain a performance bond in an amount specified by department rule from a company holding a certificate of authority as an acceptable surety on federal bonds from the United States secretary of the treasury.  To determine whether a company holds a certificate of authority as an acceptable surety on federal bonds, the department and a sponsoring organization may rely on the list published by the United States Department of the Treasury in accordance with 31 C.F.R. Section 223.16.

(c)  To the extent permitted under federal law, on application for or renewal of participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a nongovernmental entity applying to participate or to renew participation in the program as a sponsoring organization or other institution must submit to the department the following with respect to each of the entity's principals for use in conducting a background and criminal history check:

(1)  a copy of a government-issued form of identification of the principal, which may include a copy of:

(A)  a driver's license issued by this state or another state;

(B)  an identification card issued by this state, another state, or the federal government;

(C)  a passport; or

(D)  another form of identification approved by the department; and

(2)  proof of the principal's residential mailing address, which may include:

(A)  official mail sent to the principal's address from a utility provider, governmental agency, or financial institution;

(B)  a residential lease executed by the principal; or

(C)  any other form of proof approved by the department.

(d)  If there is a change in a principal or the residential mailing address of a principal of a nongovernmental entity participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program as a sponsoring organization or other institution, the entity must submit to the department the same information required under Subsection (c) with respect to the principal for use in conducting a background and criminal history check.

(e)  The department may conduct a background and criminal history check on each principal of an entity subject to this section using:

(1)  the information provided under Subsection (c) or (d), as applicable; and

(2)  the information made available by the Department of Public Safety under Section 411.1146, Government Code, or by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other criminal justice agency under Section 411.087, Government Code.

(f)  If the background and criminal history check authorized under Subsection (e) using information provided under Subsection (c) reveals that an entity knowingly falsified statements contained in the application, the department may refer that matter to an appropriate prosecuting attorney for criminal prosecution.

(g)  If a background and criminal history check authorized under Subsection (e) reveals that the principal of an entity that is an applicant for or participant in the Child and Adult Care Food Program has been convicted of fraud, violating an antitrust law, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, receiving stolen property, making false claims, obstructing justice, or any other criminal offense that indicates a lack of business integrity as determined by the department, the department:

(1)  shall deny the entity's application for participation in the program; or

(2)  may, at the department's discretion, revoke the entity's authority to participate in the program.

(h)  The executive commissioner by rule may establish procedures that would allow an entity that had the entity's application to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program denied or authority to participate in the program revoked under Subsection (g) to appeal the department's determination under that subsection.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 870, Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 33.028.  GRANT PROGRAMS FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION. (a) The Department of Agriculture shall develop a program under which the department awards grants to:

(1)  participants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Head Start program, or other early childhood education programs to operate nutrition education programs for children who are at least three years of age but younger than five years of age; and

(2)  community and faith-based initiatives that provide recreational, social, volunteer, leadership, mentoring, or developmental programs to incorporate nutrition education into programs provided for children younger than 19 years of age.

(b)  The Department of Agriculture may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this section.

(c)  The Department of Agriculture may adopt rules as necessary to administer the grant programs established under this section.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 728, Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 2009.

Sec. 33.029.  CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an applicant for or recipient of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program is not entitled to and may not receive or continue to receive any benefit under the program if the applicant or recipient is not legally present in the United States.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 7, Sec. 1.21, eff. September 28, 2011.

SUBCHAPTER B. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS EFFICIENCY

Sec. 33.051.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:

(1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services Commission.

(2)  "Supplemental nutrition assistance program" means the nutritional assistance program formerly referred to as the food stamp program.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1165, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 33.052.  APPLICATION ASSISTANCE. (a) The commission shall develop procedures to ensure that:

(1)  clear guidance on program eligibility requirements is provided to supplemental nutrition assistance applicants and prospective applicants and mechanisms are established, including Internet and e-mail mechanisms, as appropriate, by which applicants can obtain answers to basic program-related questions; and

(2)  information is provided to each applicant in person, by e-mail, by telephone, or through the mail, as appropriate, about information the applicant is required to submit for purposes of the eligibility determination process.

(b)  The commission shall consider the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using office personnel or an automated system or systems to support the eligibility determination process by contacting an applicant in advance of an applicant's scheduled interview to remind the applicant of the interview and the documentation that must be presented at the interview.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1165, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 33.053.  USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY AND FRAUD DETECTION. (a)  The commission shall consider the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using readily available document scanning technology to reduce storage and maintenance costs and potential loss of data by creating electronic case files for supplemental nutrition assistance cases instead of maintaining physical files for those cases. The commission shall use that technology if determined feasible and cost-effective.

(b)  The commission shall implement, if feasible and cost-effective, a risk scoring program for supplemental nutrition assistance applications to streamline the eligibility determination process, reduce errors, and strengthen fraud detection.  A risk scoring program implemented by the commission must be capable of ranking applications based on complexity so that:

(1)  more experienced eligibility determination staff members can be used to process more difficult cases and cases with fraud characteristics;  and

(2)  applications ranked as low-risk on fraud characteristics can be processed more expeditiously.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1165, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 33.054.  WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT.  The commission shall improve its management of supplemental nutrition assistance eligibility determination staff by:

(1)  establishing clear performance expectations that can serve as the basis for performance assessments;

(2)  planning for anticipated staffing needs;

(3)  revising policies regarding overtime and accrual of compensatory time to ensure that eligibility determination staff members have access to supervisors as necessary;

(4)  assessing the effectiveness of training provided to new eligibility determination staff members;  and

(5)  evaluating the compensation of eligibility determination staff members to determine if the compensation is sufficient to recruit qualified staff members and retain experienced staff members.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1165, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 33.055.  PROGRAM MANAGEMENT INFORMATION. (a)  The commission, in conjunction with state, regional, and local eligibility determination offices, shall identify eligibility determination program performance indicators with respect to which data should periodically be collected.   The commission shall implement a process for collecting data on the identified performance indicators.

(b)  The commission shall provide periodic management reports generated by the automated eligibility system to eligibility determination offices. The reports must include information regarding the number of pending supplemental nutrition assistance applications and the number of those applications that have not been processed within applicable timeliness standards.

(c)  The commission shall use data collected under Subsection (a) and the reports described by Subsection (b) to develop and assess strategies for:

(1)  streamlining the supplemental nutrition assistance eligibility determination process;

(2)  improving timeliness of eligibility determinations;  and

(3)  accommodating increases in applications received.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1165, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.