Text of section effective on April 01, 2025
Sec. 544.0456.  METHODS TO REDUCE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN CERTAIN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Financial assistance benefits" means monetary payments under:
(A)  the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program operated under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; or
(B)  this state's temporary assistance and support services program operated under Chapter 34, Human Resources Code.
(2)  "Supplemental nutrition assistance benefits" means monetary payments under the supplemental nutrition assistance program operated under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code.
(b)  To the extent not otherwise provided by this subtitle or Title 2, Human Resources Code, and in accordance with this section, the commission shall develop and implement methods for reducing  fraud, waste, and abuse in public assistance programs.
(c)  On a monthly basis, the commission shall:
(1)  conduct electronic data matches with the Texas Lottery Commission to determine whether a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits or a recipient's household member received reportable lottery winnings;
(2)  use the database system developed under Section 532.0201 to:
(A)  match vital statistics unit death records with a list of individuals eligible for financial assistance or supplemental nutrition assistance benefits; and
(B)  ensure that any individual receiving assistance under either program who is discovered to be deceased has the individual's eligibility for assistance promptly terminated; and
(3)  review the out-of-state electronic benefit transfer card transactions a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits made to determine whether those transactions indicate a possible change in the recipient's residence.
(d)  The commission shall immediately review a recipient's eligibility for public assistance benefits if the commission discovers information under this section that affects the recipient's eligibility.
(e)  A recipient presumptively commits a program violation if the recipient fails to disclose lottery winnings that are required to be reported to the commission under a public assistance program.
(f)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.