TITLE: Relating to rules concerning unused supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.

SUMMARY: Relating to rules concerning unused supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to rules concerning unused supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits. 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 33.038 to read as follows: Sec. 33.038. RULES CONCERNING UNUSED SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to prevent the excessive accumulation by recipients of unused benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. The commission shall consider adopting rules under this section that: (1) limit the amount of money that may accumulate in an electronic benefits transfer account at any one time; and (2) require the investigation of any recipient who maintains an excessively high balance of benefits in the recipient's electronic benefits transfer account. 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, 2013.