HBA-NRS H.B. 102 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 102
By: Maxey
Human Services
2/10/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law allows for the use of an electronic fingerprint-imaging or
photo-imaging program of adult and teen parent applicants for and
recipients of financial assistance and services from the Texas Department
of Human Services. A report by the LBJ School of Public Affairs entitled
"Lone Star Image System Evaluation: Final Report," concludes that the Lone
Star Image System pilot program cost the state of Texas $1.7 million for
the first seven months of operation and yielded no significant savings in
benefit payments. The report also found that one effect of the pilot
program was to induce temporary exits among food stamp recipients by
creating undue difficulties in the application process. House Bill 102
repeals the program.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 102 amends the Human Resources Code to repeal the Electronic
Imaging Program, developed by the Texas Department of Human Services to
prevent welfare fraud. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.