Sec. 31.0032.  PAYMENT OF ASSISTANCE FOR PERFORMANCE.  (a)  Except as provided by Section 231.115, Family Code, if after an investigation the commission or the Title IV-D agency determines that a person is not cooperating with a requirement of the responsibility agreement required under Section 31.0031, the commission shall immediately apply a sanction terminating the total amount of financial assistance provided under this chapter to or for the person and the person's family.
(a-1)  The commission shall apply a sanction or penalty imposed under Subsection (a) for a period ending when the person demonstrates cooperation with the requirement of the responsibility agreement for which the sanction was imposed or for a one-month period, whichever is longer.
(b)  The commission shall immediately notify the caretaker relative, second parent, or payee receiving the financial assistance if the commission will not make the financial assistance payment for the period prescribed by Subsection (a-1) because of a person's failure to cooperate with the requirements of the responsibility agreement during a month.
(c)  To the extent allowed by federal law, the commission may deny medical assistance for a person who is eligible for financial assistance but to whom that assistance is not paid because of the person's failure to cooperate.  Medical assistance to the person's family may not be denied for the person's failure to cooperate.  Medical assistance may not be denied to a person receiving assistance under this chapter who is under the age of 19, a pregnant adult, or any other person who may not be denied medical assistance under federal law.

Text of subsection effective until April 01, 2025

(d)  This section does not prohibit the Texas Workforce Commission, the commission, or any health and human services agency, as defined by Section 531.001, Government Code, from providing child care or any other related social or support services for an individual who is eligible for financial assistance but to whom that assistance is not paid because of the individual's failure to cooperate.

Text of subsection effective on April 01, 2025

(d)  This section does not prohibit the Texas Workforce Commission, the commission, or any health and human services agency, as defined by Section 521.0001, Government Code, from providing child care or any other related social or support services for an individual who is eligible for financial assistance but to whom that assistance is not paid because of the individual's failure to cooperate.
(e)  The executive commissioner by rule shall establish procedures to determine whether a person has cooperated with the requirements of the responsibility agreement.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 655, Sec. 2.02(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 74, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.88(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.044, eff. April 2, 2015.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 2.74, eff. April 1, 2025.