Bill Text: TX HB3076 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the improvement of efficiencies in benefit applications submitted to the Health and Human Services Commission.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-20 - Left pending in committee [HB3076 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB3076-Introduced.html
By: Rose | H.B. No. 3076 |
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relating to the improvement of efficiencies in benefit applications | ||
submitted to the Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 531.03171 and 531.03172 to read as | ||
follows: | ||
Sec. 531.03171. REQUIREMENTS FOR THIRD-PARTY ENTITIES | ||
ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTING BENEFIT APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMISSION. | ||
(a) A third-party entity that electronically submits benefit | ||
applications on behalf of clients for assistance programs | ||
administered by the commission shall: | ||
(1) provide or facilitate the provision of information | ||
or assistance to clients at a physical location in the state; | ||
(2) assist clients with the establishment of an online | ||
account for benefit assistance programs on the client benefits | ||
website administered by the commission; and | ||
(3) provide clients the opportunity to submit a full | ||
and complete benefit application in the format prescribed by the | ||
commission, to the maximum extent possible. | ||
(b) A third-party entity may partner or contract with | ||
another entity for assistance submitting benefit applications to | ||
the commission to the extent the third-party entity meets the | ||
requirements of Subsection (a). | ||
(c) A third-party entity shall use a data collection | ||
application system that matches the information requirements of the | ||
benefit applications prescribed by the commission. | ||
(d) A third-party entity may not be a for-profit entity. | ||
(e) A third-party entity does not include: | ||
(1) an authorized representative as defined by the | ||
commission or federal law for the respective assistance program; | ||
(2) a person, community-based organization, or | ||
faith-based organization participating in the Community-Based | ||
Navigator Program under Subchapter S; or | ||
(3) an organization participating in the Electronic | ||
Eligibility Information Pilot Project under Section 531.02415. | ||
Sec. 531.03172. COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR THIRD-PARTY | ||
ENTITIES SUBMITTING BENEFIT APPLICATIONS. (a) The commission | ||
shall establish minimum standards and technical requirements by | ||
contract, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement with | ||
third-party entities electronically submitting benefit | ||
applications on behalf of clients for programs administered by the | ||
commission. The standards may include requirements for payment to | ||
the commission for the costs of implementing technology changes | ||
required by the contract, memorandum of understanding, or other | ||
agreement. | ||
SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission will | ||
implement the amendments made by this Act to the extent | ||
implementation is consistent with federal law. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |