HB4120 - Relating to allowing certain inmates to apply for benefits under certain public benefits programs to be provided at the time of discharge or release.

  89R5959 LRM-D     By: Howard H.B. No. 4120       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to allowing certain inmates to apply for benefits under   certain public benefits programs to be provided at the time of   discharge or release.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 33.0181, Human Resources Code, is   transferred to Subchapter C, Chapter 545, Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, redesignated as Section 545.01011,   Government Code, and amended to read as follows:          Sec.  545.01011.   [ 33.0181. ]  MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING   REGARDING ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR CERTAIN INMATES. (a)  In   this section :                 (1) [ , ] " Inmate [ inmate ]" means an individual confined   in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice.                 (2)  "Public benefits program" includes:                       (A)  Medicaid;                       (B)  the child health plan program;                       (C)     the Healthy Texas Women program operated by   the commission that is substantially similar to the demonstration   project operated under former Section 32.0248, Human Resources   Code, and that is intended to expand access to preventive health and   family planning services for women in this state;                       (D)     the Family Planning Program operated by the   commission that provides health care and core family planning   services to individuals in this state;                       (E)     the financial assistance program established   under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;                       (F)     the supplemental nutrition assistance   program as defined by Section 33.0005, Human Resources Code; and                       (G)     the federal special supplemental nutrition   program for women, infants, and children authorized by 42 U.S.C.   Section 1786.          (b)  The commission and the Texas Department of Criminal   Justice shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for the   purpose of ensuring that an inmate who is likely to be eligible for   the public [ supplemental nutrition assistance ] benefits program on   discharge or release on parole, mandatory supervision, or   conditional pardon is assessed by the commission for eligibility   for those benefits before the inmate's discharge or release.          (c)  The memorandum of understanding required by this   section must:                (1)  establish a procedure through which the commission   shall accept and process public benefits [ supplemental nutrition   assistance ] program applications from inmates; and                (2)  define the roles and responsibilities of each   agency under the memorandum.          (d)  The memorandum of understanding required by Subsection   (b) must be tailored to achieve the goal of ensuring that an inmate   described by Subsection (b) who is determined eligible by the   commission for the public benefits [ supplemental nutrition   assistance ] program [ benefits ] may begin receiving services under   the program at the time of the inmate's discharge or release on   parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon.          (e)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary   to implement this section.          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.