| 1 | 1 | | 85R10529 JXC-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Perez H.B. No. 2114 |
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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 authority of the Health and Human Services |
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| 8 | 8 | | Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to identify |
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| 9 | 9 | | customers who may be eligible for bill payment assistance programs. |
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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. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Utilities Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 32.005 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 32.005. INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION. (a) |
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| 14 | 14 | | The Health and Human Services Commission may regularly provide to |
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| 15 | 15 | | the commission a list of persons in this state who: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) receive medical assistance under the medical |
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| 17 | 17 | | assistance program established under Chapter 32, Human Resources |
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| 18 | 18 | | Code; or |
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| 19 | 19 | | (2) receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition |
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| 20 | 20 | | assistance program established under Chapter 33, Human Resources |
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| 21 | 21 | | Code. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (b) The commission may use the list to assist a municipally |
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| 23 | 23 | | owned utility, electric cooperative, electric utility, or retail |
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| 24 | 24 | | electric provider in providing bill payment assistance to customers |
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| 25 | 25 | | who receive assistance or benefits described by Subsection (a). |
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| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 27 | 27 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 28 | 28 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 29 | 29 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 30 | 30 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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