SB 11 by SENATOR NELSON: REFORMING WELFARE IN TEXAS Background: The mission of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

program, often referred to as "welfare," is to provide temporary financial assistance to low-income Texans for food, clothing, housing, and other basic needs. More than 100,000 Texans are enrolled in TANF at a cost of nearly $90 million a year. Federal law requires that adult TANF recipients be involved in employment searches or skills training with certain exceptions. It also requires states to prevent TANF transactions at casinos, liquor stores and adult-entertainment establishments. Seven states have passed laws requiring drug testing for TANF recipients and at least 28 states have proposed such legislation in 2012. Key Provisions: SB 11 reforms the Texas TANF program to better align with the original purpose of supporting participants on a temporary basis as they work to achieve self-sufficiency. SB 11:

Replaces the broad list of exemptions from TANF work requirements with a streamlined exemption process that more closely follows federal law and is tailored to each individual family; Requires retailers who accept TANF payments to ensure that TANF benefits are not used to purchase non-allowable goods or services such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, lottery tickets, or adult entertainment; Requires HHSC to study the feasibility of providing TANF benefits through an electronic voucher and report its findings by Sept. 1, 2014; Institutes a drug screening and testing process for TANF applicants; and Disqualifies applicants testing positive for drug use, and their families, from TANF for 12 months, but allows applicants to reapply after 6 months if they have completed, or are enrolled in, a substance abuse treatment program. Applicants who fail the drug test three times, and their families, are permanently ineligible for TANF.

Statement from Senator Nelson: "We need to ensure that individuals receiving these public benefits are on a true path to selfsufficiency and drug free in keeping with the mission of this program. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize a person's drug habit -- a destructive barrier to achieving independence."
SENATOR JANE NELSON represents District 12, including portions of Tarrant and Denton Counties. She is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services.

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