The 73rd and 74th Texas Legislative sessions were marked by a growing interest in reforming the state's major welfare program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). This interest culminated with the passage of House Bill 1863 in May of 1995. A primary component of this welfare reform legislation was the imposition of time-limits on the receipt of cash assistance. While this change has paralleled similar efforts in other states, the Texas time-limit plan evolved without many of the supports, incentives and employment services included by other states. Without these additional policy changes it is not clear that Texas' time-limits are a viable welfare-reform strategy.
--Author's foreword.
