bill reimbursing SNAP delivery fees for seniors and disabled recipients

The text as introduced · 437 words

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.