85R1019 ADM-D
By: Huffines S.B. No. 766
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to accounting for costs incurred by the health and human
services system as a result of the presence in this state of persons
who are not lawfully present in the United States.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.0255 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0255. ACCOUNTING FOR COSTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
(a) Not later than the 30th day before the first day of each regular
legislative session, the commission shall issue to the speaker of
the house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, the
governor, and the attorney general a report of the financial costs
to the health and human services system incurred during the
preceding two-year period that resulted from the presence in this
state of persons who are not lawfully present in the United States.
(b) The report must include a separate accounting for the
costs incurred in specific categories of spending as determined by
the comptroller.
(c) On request of the commission, the comptroller shall
assist the commission in preparing the report.
SECTION 2. This state recognizes that it is the
responsibility of the federal government to maintain the security
of the national border to prevent unlawful entry of persons and
finds that the federal government should reimburse this state for
expenditures by the Health and Human Services Commission and the
health and human services agencies, as defined by Section 531.001,
Government Code, made necessary by the presence of persons in this
state who are not lawfully present in the United States.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.