85R1364 ADM-F     By: Creighton S.B. No. 1443       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to electronic benefits transfer cards used for recipients   of benefits under certain assistance programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 531.0911 to read as follows:          Sec. 531.0911.  PHOTOGRAPH AND OTHER INFORMATION ON CERTAIN   ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER CARDS. (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Financial assistance program" means the   financial assistance program established under Chapter 31, Human   Resources Code.                (2)  "Recipient" means a person who receives benefits   under the financial assistance program or the supplemental   nutrition assistance program.                (3)  "Supplemental nutrition assistance program" has   the meaning assigned by Section 33.0005, Human Resources Code.          (b)  Subject to Subsection (c), the commission shall ensure   that the front side of each electronic benefits transfer card used   by a recipient, or other person authorized on the recipient's   account, for purposes of receiving benefits under the financial   assistance program or the supplemental nutrition assistance   program displays:                (1)  the name and photograph of the recipient or other   authorized person, as appropriate;                (2)  the words "Fraud Hotline" followed by the   telephone number of the commission's toll-free hotline for   reporting suspected fraud required under Section 531.108(b)(2);   and                (3)  the Internet website address maintained by the   commission for the purpose of allowing persons to report suspected   fraud in either the financial assistance program or the   supplemental nutrition assistance program.          (c)  A recipient, or other person authorized on the   recipient's account, as appropriate, is exempt from the photograph   requirement imposed by Subsection (b) if the person is:                (1)  65 years of age or older;                (2)  younger than 19 years of age;                (3)  blind;                (4)  disabled; or                (5)  a victim of domestic violence.          (d)  The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to   implement Subsection (c).          SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding Section 531.0911, Government   Code, as added by this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission   is not required to issue electronic benefits transfer cards that   comply with that section until September 1, 2018, but is required to   begin issuing cards that comply with that section beginning on that   date. The commission shall ensure that on or before August 31, 2020,   each electronic benefits transfer card used to deliver benefits to   recipients under the financial assistance program under Chapter 31,   Human Resources Code, or the supplemental nutrition assistance   program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, conforms to Section   531.0911, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.