Tex. Human Resources Code Section 31.0127
Coordination of Services to Certain Clients


(a)

The Health and Human Services Commission shall coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission for the provision of child care services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families employment programs, and supplemental nutrition assistance program employment and training services to an individual or family who has been referred for programs and services by the Health and Human Services Commission. The purpose of this section is to accomplish the following:

(1)

increase the self-sufficiency of recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and improve the delivery of services to those recipients; and

(2)

improve the effectiveness of job-training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) or a successor program in obtaining employment for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance.

(b)

The Health and Human Services Commission shall require the Texas Workforce Commission to comply with Chapter 531 (Health and Human Services Commission), Government Code, solely for:

(1)

the promulgation of rules relating to the programs described by Subsection (a);

(2)

the expenditure of funds relating to the programs described by Subsection (a), within the limitations established by and subject to the General Appropriations Act and federal and other law applicable to the use of the funds;

(3)

data collection and reporting relating to the programs described by Subsection (a); and

(4)

evaluation of services relating to the programs described by Subsection (a).

(b)

The Health and Human Services Commission shall require the Texas Workforce Commission to comply with the revised provisions derived from Chapter 531 (Health and Human Services Commission), Government Code, as that chapter existed on March 31, 2025, solely for:

(1)

the promulgation of rules relating to the programs described by Subsection (a);

(2)

the expenditure of funds relating to the programs described by Subsection (a), within the limitations established by and subject to the General Appropriations Act and federal and other law applicable to the use of the funds;

(3)

data collection and reporting relating to the programs described by Subsection (a); and

(4)

evaluation of services relating to the programs described by Subsection (a).

(c)

The Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly develop and adopt a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding must:

(1)

outline measures to be taken to increase the number of individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance who are using job-training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.), or a successor program; and

(2)

identify specific measures to improve the delivery of services to clients served by programs described by Subsection (a).

(d)

Not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Health and Human Services Commission shall provide a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives that:

(1)

evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of client services in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program;

(2)

evaluates the status of the coordination among agencies and compliance with this section;

(3)

recommends measures to increase self-sufficiency of recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance and to improve the delivery of services to these recipients; and

(4)

evaluates the effectiveness of job-training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) or a successor program in obtaining employment outcomes for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance.

(e)

Subsection (b) does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to require a state agency, other than a health and human services agency, to comply with Chapter 531 (Health and Human Services Commission), Government Code, except as specifically provided by Subsection (b). The authority granted under Subsection (b) does not affect Section 301.041 (Executive Director; Agency Personnel), Labor Code.

(e)

Subsection (b) does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to require a state agency, other than a health and human services agency, to comply with revised provisions derived from Chapter 531 (Health and Human Services Commission), Government Code, as that chapter existed on March 31, 2025, except as specifically provided by Subsection (b). The authority granted under Subsection (b) does not affect Section 301.041 (Executive Director; Agency Personnel), Labor Code.

(f)

If the change in law made by this section with regard to any program or service conflicts with federal law or would have the effect of invalidating a waiver granted under federal law, the state agency is not required to comply with this section with regard to that program or service.

(g)

This section does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to change the allocation or disbursement of funds allocated to the state under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) in a manner that would result in the loss of exemption status.

(h)

This section does not authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to transfer programs to or from the commission and another agency serving clients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program administered under Chapter 33 (Nutritional Assistance Programs) without explicit legislative authorization.

(i)

The executive commissioner may not promulgate rules relating to eligibility for the program services described by Subsection (a) and the Texas Workforce Commission may not promulgate rules in accordance with Subsection (b)(1) without holding a public hearing.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1460, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.059, eff. April 2, 2015.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 2.75, eff. April 1, 2025.

Source: Section 31.0127 — Coordination of Services to Certain Clients, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/HR/htm/HR.­31.­htm#31.­0127 (accessed Apr. 20, 2024).

31.001
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
31.002
Definition of Dependent Child
31.003
Amount of Financial Assistance
31.004
Foster Care
31.005
Dependent Child Residing with Relatives
31.006
Welfare and Related Services
31.007
Financial Assistance to Individuals in Institutions
31.008
Counseling and Guidance Services
31.010
Support Services
31.012
Mandatory Work or Participation in Employment Activities Through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Employment Program
31.015
Healthy Marriage Development Program
31.016
Service Referrals for Certain Recipients
31.017
Healthy Marriages and Strong Families Grant Program
31.018
Marriage and Family Program Funding
31.0021
Definition of Nonrecipient Parent
31.0031
Responsibility Agreement
31.031
Application for Assistance
31.0032
Payment of Assistance for Performance
31.032
Investigation and Determination of Eligibility
31.033
Reinvestigation and Redetermination of Eligibility
31.0033
Good Cause Hearing for Failure to Cooperate
31.034
Appeal from Local Eligibility Offices
31.035
Method of Payment
31.0035
Transitional Child-care Services
31.0036
Dependent Child’s Income
31.036
Eligibility of Person Leaving the State
31.037
Payment of Financial Assistance Funds on Death of Recipient
31.0038
Temporary Exclusion of New Spouse’s Income
31.038
Cancellation of Unused Benefits
31.0039
Exclusion of Assets in Prepaid Tuition Programs and Higher Education Savings Plans
31.039
Issuance of Replacement Financial Assistance Warrants and Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards
31.040
Nontransferability of Assistance Funds
31.0041
Supplemental Financial Assistance for Certain Persons
31.041
Right to Assistance Not Vested
31.042
Proration of Financial Assistance
31.043
Fill-the-gap Budgeting
31.044
Inactive Electronic Benefits Transfer Account
31.045
Peace Officers
31.0051
Minor Parent Residing with Relatives
31.051
Definition
31.052
Limitation on Amount of Financial Assistance
31.053
Determination by Legislative Budget Board
31.0065
Time-limited Benefits
31.0066
Hardship Exemptions from Federal Time Limits
31.0095
Needs Assessment
31.0121
Skills Assessment and Development for Certain Recipients and Certain Nonrecipient Parents
31.0124
Referral to Educational Programs
31.0126
Employment Programs
31.0127
Coordination of Services to Certain Clients
31.0128
Coordinated Interagency Plan
31.0129
Coordinated Plan to Improve Interagency Transitions
31.0135
Parenting Skills Training
31.0315
Determination of Parentage
31.0322
Victims of Family Violence
31.0324
Assignment of Protective Payee
31.0326
Verification of Identity and Prevention of Duplicate Participation
31.00331
Additional Penalty for Continuous Failure to Cooperate
31.0355
Use of Financial Assistance
31.01261
Provision of Employment Services to Certain Nonrecipient Parents

Accessed:
Apr. 20, 2024

§ 31.0127’s source at texas​.gov