86R13753 KFF-D
By: Collier H.B. No. 4596
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to ensuring the continued provision of benefits under
Medicaid and the supplemental nutrition assistance program for the
children of individuals confined in a penal or correctional
institution.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.0267 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0267. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
CONFINED IN PENAL OR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. (a) This section
applies to a child who is a Medicaid recipient.
(b) The commission shall ensure that the child of an
individual who is confined in a penal or correctional institution,
including a county jail in this state or a federal correctional
institution, will continue to receive benefits under Medicaid
without interruption due to the parent's confinement.
(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section, including rules designed to ensure that
at the time for recertifying the child's eligibility for Medicaid
benefits, a process is implemented to ensure the parent's
confinement does not impede or delay the child's recertification if
the child is otherwise eligible for the benefits.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 33.0181 to read as follows:
Sec. 33.0181. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
CONFINED IN PENAL OR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. (a) This section
applies to a child who is receiving benefits under the supplemental
nutrition assistance program.
(b) The commission shall ensure that the child of an
individual who is confined in a penal or correctional institution,
including a county jail in this state or a federal correctional
institution, will continue to receive benefits under the
supplemental nutrition assistance program without interruption due
to the parent's confinement.
(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section, including rules designed to ensure that
at the time for recertifying the child's eligibility for benefits
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, a process is
implemented to ensure the parent's confinement does not impede or
delay the child's recertification if the child is otherwise
eligible for the benefits.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.