| 1 | 1 | | 88R12226 MM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Lalani H.B. No. 3085 |
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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 requirement that public institutions of higher |
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| 8 | 8 | | education provide applicants with certain information regarding |
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| 9 | 9 | | eligibility for public health 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 Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 51.9199 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 51.9199. REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH |
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| 14 | 14 | | PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. (a) In this section, "institution of higher |
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| 15 | 15 | | education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) An institution of higher education shall distribute to |
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| 17 | 17 | | each applicant for admission as an entering freshman or |
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| 18 | 18 | | undergraduate transfer student information designed to educate and |
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| 19 | 19 | | inform the applicant about eligibility requirements for public |
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| 20 | 20 | | health benefits coverage, including coverage under Medicaid and the |
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| 21 | 21 | | child health plan program. The information must: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) clearly explain the eligibility requirements for |
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| 23 | 23 | | the applicable public health programs; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2) address the most common health care needs of the |
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| 25 | 25 | | student population in relation to the public health benefits that |
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| 26 | 26 | | may be available to the applicant under the public health programs; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) be tailored specifically to the student population |
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| 28 | 28 | | who may complete the necessary forms independently; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (4) include the enrollment procedures for the public |
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| 30 | 30 | | health programs, including a link to the Health and Human Services |
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| 31 | 31 | | Commission's Internet website that displays that enrollment |
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| 32 | 32 | | information. |
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| 33 | 33 | | (c) To support the provision of information under |
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| 34 | 34 | | Subsection (b), the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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| 35 | 35 | | develop informational material about the eligibility requirements |
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| 36 | 36 | | for public health benefits coverage, including coverage under |
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| 37 | 37 | | Medicaid and the child health plan program, that is: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (1) up to date; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2) clear and easy to understand. |
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| 40 | 40 | | SECTION 2. Section 51.9199, Education Code, as added by |
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| 41 | 41 | | this Act, applies beginning with the 2023 fall semester. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 43 | 43 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 44 | 44 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 45 | 45 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 46 | 46 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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