Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3076 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Rose H.B. No. 3076
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the improvement of efficiencies in benefit applications
7	7	submitted to the Health and Human Services Commission.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
10	10	amended by adding Sections 531.03171 and 531.03172 to read as
11	11	follows:
12	12	Sec. 531.03171. REQUIREMENTS FOR THIRD-PARTY ENTITIES
13	13	ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTING BENEFIT APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMISSION.
14	14	(a) A third-party entity that electronically submits benefit
15	15	applications on behalf of clients for assistance programs
16	16	administered by the commission shall:
17	17	(1) provide or facilitate the provision of information
18	18	or assistance to clients at a physical location in the state;
19	19	(2) assist clients with the establishment of an online
20	20	account for benefit assistance programs on the client benefits
21	21	website administered by the commission; and
22	22	(3) provide clients the opportunity to submit a full
23	23	and complete benefit application in the format prescribed by the
24	24	commission, to the maximum extent possible.
25	25	(b) A third-party entity may partner or contract with
26	26	another entity for assistance submitting benefit applications to
27	27	the commission to the extent the third-party entity meets the
28	28	requirements of Subsection (a).
29	29	(c) A third-party entity shall use a data collection
30	30	application system that matches the information requirements of the
31	31	benefit applications prescribed by the commission.
32	32	(d) A third-party entity may not be a for-profit entity.
33	33	(e) A third-party entity does not include:
34	34	(1) an authorized representative as defined by the
35	35	commission or federal law for the respective assistance program;
36	36	(2) a person, community-based organization, or
37	37	faith-based organization participating in the Community-Based
38	38	Navigator Program under Subchapter S; or
39	39	(3) an organization participating in the Electronic
40	40	Eligibility Information Pilot Project under Section 531.02415.
41	41	Sec. 531.03172. COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR THIRD-PARTY
42	42	ENTITIES SUBMITTING BENEFIT APPLICATIONS. (a) The commission
43	43	shall establish minimum standards and technical requirements by
44	44	contract, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement with
45	45	third-party entities electronically submitting benefit
46	46	applications on behalf of clients for programs administered by the
47	47	commission. The standards may include requirements for payment to
48	48	the commission for the costs of implementing technology changes
49	49	required by the contract, memorandum of understanding, or other
50	50	agreement.
51	51	SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission will
52	52	implement the amendments made by this Act to the extent
53	53	implementation is consistent with federal law.
54	54	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
55	55	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
56	56	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
57	57	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
58	58	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.