| 1 | 1 | | 89R2860 MM-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Lalani H.B. No. 181 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to a requirement that public institutions of higher |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | education provide applicants with certain information regarding |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | eligibility for public health programs. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | amended by adding Section 51.9199 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 51.9199. REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. (a) In this section, "institution of higher |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (b) An institution of higher education shall distribute to |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | each applicant for admission as an entering freshman or |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | undergraduate transfer student information designed to educate and |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | inform the applicant about eligibility requirements for public |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | health benefits coverage, including coverage under Medicaid and the |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | child health plan program. The information must: |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (1) clearly explain the eligibility requirements for |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | the applicable public health programs; |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (2) address the most common health care needs of the |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | student population in relation to the public health benefits that |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | may be available to the applicant under the public health programs; |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (3) be tailored specifically to the student population |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | who may complete the necessary forms independently; and |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (4) include the enrollment procedures for the public |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | health programs, including a link to the Health and Human Services |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Commission's Internet website that displays that enrollment |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | information. |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (c) To support the provision of information under |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | Subsection (b), the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | develop informational material about the eligibility requirements |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | for public health benefits coverage, including coverage under |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | Medicaid and the child health plan program, that is: |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | (1) up to date; and |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (2) clear and easy to understand. |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 2. Section 51.9199, Education Code, as added by |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | this Act, applies beginning with the 2025 fall semester. |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|