Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 550.0051. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council" means the Texas Nonprofit Council. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 550.0052. DESIGNATION OF FAITH- AND COMMUNITY-BASED LIAISONS. (a) The executive commissioner, in consultation with the governor, shall designate one employee from the commission and from each health and human services agency to serve as a liaison for faith- and community-bas…

Sec. 550.0053. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF LIAISONS. (a) A faith- and community-based liaison designated under Section 550.0052 shall: (1) identify and remove unnecessary barriers to partnerships between the state agency the liaison represents and faith- and community-based orga…

Sec. 550.0054. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING GROUP. (a) The interagency coordinating group for faith- and community-based initiatives is composed of: (1) each faith- and community-based liaison designated under Section 550.0052; and (2) a liaison from the State Commission on National …

Sec. 550.0055. DUTIES OF INTERAGENCY COORDINATING GROUP. The interagency coordinating group shall: (1) meet periodically at the call of the presiding officer; (2) work across state agencies and with the State Commission on National and Community Service to facilitate the removal …

Sec. 550.0056. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING GROUP ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each year, the interagency coordinating group shall submit to the legislature a report describing in detail the activities, goals, and progress of the group. The report must be made availabl…

Sec. 550.0057. TEXAS NONPROFIT COUNCIL. (a) The Texas Nonprofit Council is established to help direct the interagency coordinating group in carrying out the group's duties under this subchapter. (b) The governor, in consultation with the presiding officer of the interagency coord…

Sec. 550.0058. DUTIES OF TEXAS NONPROFIT COUNCIL. The council, in coordination with the interagency coordinating group, shall: (1) make recommendations for improving contracting relationships between state agencies and faith- and community-based organizations; (2) develop best pr…

Sec. 550.0059. TEXAS NONPROFIT COUNCIL BIENNIAL REPORT. (a) The council shall prepare a biennial report detailing the council's work. The report must include any recommendations relating to legislation necessary to address an issue identified under Section 550.0058. (b) Not later…

Sec. 550.0101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "account" means the renewing our communities account established under Section 550.0103. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 550.0102. PURPOSES OF SUBCHAPTER. Recognizing that faith- and community-based organizations provide a range of vital charitable services to persons in this state, the purposes of this subchapter are to: (1) increase the impact and effectiveness of those organizations; (2) fo…

Sec. 550.0103. RENEWING OUR COMMUNITIES ACCOUNT. (a) The renewing our communities account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only to the commission for: (1) the purposes and activities authorized by this subchapter; and (2) reasonable administrativ…

Sec. 550.0104. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES REGARDING ACCOUNT. (a) The commission shall: (1) contract with the State Commission on National and Community Service to administer funds appropriated from the account in a manner that: (A) consolidates the capacity of and strengthens n…

Sec. 550.0105. ACCEPTABLE USES OF ACCOUNT FUNDS. The commission or the State Commission on National and Community Service, in accordance with the terms of a contract or grant, as applicable, may: (1) directly, or through agreements with one or more entities serving faith- and com…

Sec. 550.0106. ADMINISTRATION OF ACCOUNT FUNDS. (a) If under Section 550.0104 the commission contracts with or awards a grant to the State Commission on National and Community Service, that entity: (1) may award grants from funds appropriated from the account to: (A) faith- and c…

Sec. 550.0107. ACCOUNT MONITORING. The commission shall monitor the use of the funds administered by the State Commission on National and Community Service under a contract or through a grant under Section 550.0104 to ensure that the funds are used in a manner consistent with the…

Sec. 550.0108. PUBLIC INFORMATION; INTERNET POSTING REQUIREMENT. (a) Records relating to the award of a contract or grant to the State Commission on National and Community Service, or to grants that entity awards, and records relating to other uses of the awarded funds are public…

Sec. 550.0109. REPORTS. (a) If the State Commission on National and Community Service is awarded a contract or grant under Section 550.0104, that entity must provide to the commission periodic reports on a schedule the executive commissioner determines. The schedule of periodic r…

Sec. 550.0110. CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. If the commission contracts with or awards a grant to the State Commission on National and Community Service under Section 550.0104, this subchapter may not be construed to: (1) release that entity from any regulations or reporting or ot…

Sec. 550.0151. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission shall: (1) establish a program under which faith- and community-based organizations may, on an applicant's request, contact and offer supplemental assistance to the applicant for benefits under: (A) the financial assistance…

Sec. 550.0152. RULES. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to implement the program, including rules that: (1) describe: (A) the types of faith- and community-based organizations that may apply to participate in the program; and (B) the qualifications and standards of ser…

Sec. 550.0201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Financial assistance benefits" means money payments under: (A) the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program operated under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; or (B) the state temporary assistance and support servi…

Sec. 550.0202. PILOT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION. (a) The commission shall develop and implement a pilot program to assist not more than 500 eligible families in gaining permanent self-sufficiency and by eliminating the need for financial assistance, supplemental nutri…

Sec. 550.0203. PILOT PROGRAM DESIGN. (a) The commission shall design the pilot program to allow social services providers, public benefit offices, and other community partners to refer potential participating families to the program. (b) The commission shall design the pilot prog…

Sec. 550.0204. BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. (a) To allow for continuation of financial assistance and supplemental nutrition assistance benefits and reduction of the benefits using a slow reduction scale, the pilot program will test extending the benefits f…

Sec. 550.0205. FAMILY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. A family is eligible to participate in the pilot program if the family: (1) includes one or more members who are recipients of financial assistance or supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, at least one of whom is: (A) at least…

Sec. 550.0206. CASE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) An individual from a family that wishes to participate in the pilot program must attend an in-person intake meeting with a program case manager. During the intake meeting the case manager shall: (1) determine whether: (A) the indiv…

Sec. 550.0207. PILOT PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION. The commission shall monitor and evaluate the pilot program in a manner that allows for promoting research-informed results of the program. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2…

Sec. 550.0208. REPORTS. (a) On the conclusion of the pilot program but not later than 48 months following the date of the last participating family's enrollment in the program, the commission shall report to the legislature on the results of the program. The report must include: …

Sec. 550.0209. RULES. The executive commissioner and the Texas Workforce Commission may adopt rules to implement this subchapter. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 550.0210. SUBCHAPTER EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September 1, 2026. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025. SUBCHAPTER E. COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATOR PROGRAM

Sec. 550.0251. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "navigator" means an individual who is: (1) a volunteer or other representative of a faith- or community-based organization; and (2) certified by the commission to provide or facilitate the provision of information or assistance thro…

Sec. 550.0252. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish a statewide community-based navigator program if the executive commissioner determines the program can be established and operated using existing resources and without disrupting…

Sec. 550.0253. PROGRAM STANDARDS. The executive commissioner shall adopt standards to implement this subchapter, including standards: (1) subject to Section 550.0254, regarding the qualifications and training required for navigator certification; (2) regarding the suspension, rev…

Sec. 550.0254. NAVIGATOR TRAINING PROGRAM. The commission shall develop and administer a navigator training program that includes training on: (1) the manner of completing an online application for public assistance benefits through the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign Syste…

Sec. 550.0255. CERTIFIED NAVIGATOR LIST. The commission shall publish and maintain on the commission's Internet website a list of certified navigators. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.