HB434 - Relating to creating a reimbursement program to reimburse certain supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients for the cost of certain food delivery service fees.

  89R1822 JG-F     By: Lopez of Bexar H.B. No. 434       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to creating a reimbursement program to reimburse certain   supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients for the cost   of certain food delivery service fees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 33.033 to read as follows:           Sec.   33.033.     FOOD DELIVERY FEE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR   CERTAIN ELIGIBLE SNAP RECIPIENTS. (a) In this section, "eligible   recipient" means a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance   program benefits who:                 (1)  is 65 years of age or older; or                 (2)     has a disability, as defined by the Americans with   Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.).           (b)     From appropriated money available for that purpose, the   commission shall develop and implement a reimbursement program   under which an eligible recipient may obtain financial assistance   in the form of reimbursement to cover the cost of delivery service   fees incurred by the recipient in connection with the purchase of   eligible food items under the supplemental nutrition assistance   program. In implementing the reimbursement program, the commission   shall:                 (1)     prescribe the form and manner for an eligible   recipient to request reimbursement, which may require the recipient   to submit an application online, by mail, or in person; and                 (2)     ensure that supplemental nutrition assistance   program benefits are not used to reimburse the cost of delivery   service fees under this section.           (c)     The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary   to implement this section, including rules that:                 (1)     establish a reimbursement methodology for   determining the reimbursement amount that an eligible recipient may   receive to cover the cost of a delivery service fee assessed in   connection with the purchase of eligible food items, which may   include limits on:                       (A)     the total reimbursement amount that an   eligible recipient may receive to cover the cost of the delivery   service fee; and                       (B)     the total number of purchases for which an   eligible recipient may receive reimbursement over a period of time   the commission specifies; and                 (2)     restrict an eligible recipient from obtaining   reimbursement to cover the cost of delivery of a purchase that   includes items that are not eligible for purchase using   supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.          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, 2025.