85R13331 MM-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 3967
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force to study the financing
options for early childhood intervention services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "executive commissioner"
means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(b) The executive commissioner shall establish a task force
to study and make recommendations regarding the feasibility of
requiring:
(1) private group health benefit plan coverage for
early childhood intervention services, including speech therapy
services, regardless of whether the services are necessitated by an
illness, injury, or cognitive defect; and
(2) private group health benefit plan issuers to
include providers of early childhood intervention services in their
provider networks.
(c) Subject to this subsection, the executive commissioner
shall determine the size and composition of the task force. The
executive commissioner shall appoint the members of the task force,
which must include representatives of:
(1) early childhood intervention services providers;
(2) advocacy groups that provide policy advocacy for
recipients of early childhood intervention services;
(3) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(4) the Texas Department of Insurance; and
(5) private group health benefit plan issuers.
(d) Not later than December 1, 2018, the task force shall
submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the
legislature that includes:
(1) the results of the task force's study;
(2) recommendations regarding the feasibility of the
requirements described by Subsection (b) of this section; and
(3) legislation necessary to implement the
recommendations made under Subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(e) This section expires and the task force is abolished
January 1, 2019.
SECTION 2. 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, 2017.