81R7573 KFF-D
By: Villarreal H.B. No. 4023
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study and report on the feasibility of providing
services and benefits under federally funded public benefit
programs to encourage fathers' involvement beginning during
pregnancy.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(3) "Federally funded public benefit program" means a
federally funded assistance program administered by the commission
or a health and human services agency, including:
(A) the child health plan program under Chapter
62, Health and Safety Code;
(B) the medical assistance program under Chapter
32, Human Resources Code;
(C) programs operated by the Texas Primary Care
Office at the Department of State Health Services;
(D) the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children; and
(E) programs funded under the Maternal and Child
Health Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq.), as
amended.
(4) "Health and human services agencies" has the
meaning assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code.
SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The commission shall conduct a study
to evaluate the feasibility of providing benefits or services under
federally funded public benefit programs to encourage the
involvement of prospective fathers of the unborn children of
pregnant women receiving health care services under those programs,
including the feasibility of providing simple health screening
services to those fathers that are similar to the health screening
services provided to the prospective mothers, to the extent those
services are appropriate.
(b) In conducting the study under Subsection (a) of this
section, the commission shall:
(1) evaluate and identify funding sources available
under federally funded public benefit programs to provide the
benefits and services to prospective fathers as described by
Subsection (a) of this section, including the possibility of
obtaining a federal waiver or other authorization under a federally
funded public benefit program to provide those services and
benefits; and
(2) consider the ability of health care providers
participating in federally funded public benefit programs to
provide the benefits and services described by Subsection (a) of
this section.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2010, the
commission shall submit to the legislature a written report
containing the findings of the study conducted under this Act and
the commission's recommendations.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.