| 1 | 1 | | 86R14211 LED-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 2970 |
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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 a consolidated eligibility screening process for |
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| 8 | 8 | | benefits under certain assistance programs. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 531.024183 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 531.024183. CONSOLIDATED SCREENING FOR ASSISTANCE |
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| 13 | 13 | | PROGRAMS. (a) The executive commissioner shall ensure that |
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| 14 | 14 | | commission employees who conduct eligibility screenings for |
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| 15 | 15 | | assistance programs use a consolidated eligibility screening |
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| 16 | 16 | | procedure for an individual who personally appears at a commission |
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| 17 | 17 | | office to apply for benefits on behalf of the individual or the |
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| 18 | 18 | | individual's child. The consolidated screening must allow for an |
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| 19 | 19 | | eligibility screening for each of the following programs: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) the child health plan program; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, |
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| 22 | 22 | | Human Resources Code; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (3) Medicaid; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | (4) the supplemental nutrition assistance program |
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| 25 | 25 | | under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) The procedure must ensure that an individual who is |
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| 27 | 27 | | identified through the screening as eligible for an assistance |
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| 28 | 28 | | program is assisted in applying for and enrolling in the program for |
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| 29 | 29 | | which the individual or the individual's child is eligible. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 2. Section 62.104(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 31 | 31 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 32 | 32 | | (a) The executive commissioner shall develop eligibility |
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| 33 | 33 | | screening and enrollment procedures for children that comply with |
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| 34 | 34 | | the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Section 1397bb, as amended, Section |
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| 35 | 35 | | 531.024183, Government Code, and any other applicable law or |
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| 36 | 36 | | regulations. The procedures shall ensure that Medicaid-eligible |
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| 37 | 37 | | children are identified and referred to the Medicaid program. |
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| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 39 | 39 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 40 | 40 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 42 | 42 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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