| 1 | 1 | | 84R6020 ADM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: West S.B. No. 1524 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the eligibility of certain foster care adolescents and |
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| 8 | 8 | | former foster care adolescents for benefits under the Medicaid |
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| 9 | 9 | | program. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 32.0247, Human Resources Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (g) The department shall ensure that an independent foster |
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| 14 | 14 | | care adolescent who is otherwise eligible is automatically enrolled |
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| 15 | 15 | | in an appropriate medical assistance program, including a waiver |
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| 16 | 16 | | program established under Section 1915(c) of the federal Social |
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| 17 | 17 | | Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396n(c)), once the adolescent is |
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| 18 | 18 | | no longer eligible for the program under this section. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (h) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section |
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| 20 | 20 | | and any other law and to the extent permitted under federal law, the |
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| 21 | 21 | | department shall provide medical assistance to: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) an adolescent in foster care in this state who did |
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| 23 | 23 | | not reside in this state on the date of the adolescent's 18th |
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| 24 | 24 | | birthday but who is otherwise eligible for assistance under this |
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| 25 | 25 | | section; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) a person who was formerly in foster care under the |
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| 27 | 27 | | supervision of the Department of Family and Protective Services |
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| 28 | 28 | | through an agreement under the Interstate Compact on the Placement |
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| 29 | 29 | | of Children under Subchapter B, Chapter 162, Family Code, until the |
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| 30 | 30 | | person's 26th birthday. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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| 32 | 32 | | a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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| 33 | 33 | | federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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| 34 | 34 | | the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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| 35 | 35 | | authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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| 36 | 36 | | waiver or authorization is granted. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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