Bill Text: TX HB3967 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a task force to study the financing options for early childhood intervention services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-03 - Referred to Human Services [HB3967 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB3967-Introduced.html
85R13331 MM-D | ||
By: Walle | H.B. No. 3967 |
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relating to the establishment of a task force to study the financing | ||
options for early childhood intervention services. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "executive commissioner" | ||
means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services | ||
Commission. | ||
(b) The executive commissioner shall establish a task force | ||
to study and make recommendations regarding the feasibility of | ||
requiring: | ||
(1) private group health benefit plan coverage for | ||
early childhood intervention services, including speech therapy | ||
services, regardless of whether the services are necessitated by an | ||
illness, injury, or cognitive defect; and | ||
(2) private group health benefit plan issuers to | ||
include providers of early childhood intervention services in their | ||
provider networks. | ||
(c) Subject to this subsection, the executive commissioner | ||
shall determine the size and composition of the task force. The | ||
executive commissioner shall appoint the members of the task force, | ||
which must include representatives of: | ||
(1) early childhood intervention services providers; | ||
(2) advocacy groups that provide policy advocacy for | ||
recipients of early childhood intervention services; | ||
(3) the Health and Human Services Commission; | ||
(4) the Texas Department of Insurance; and | ||
(5) private group health benefit plan issuers. | ||
(d) Not later than December 1, 2018, the task force shall | ||
submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the | ||
legislature that includes: | ||
(1) the results of the task force's study; | ||
(2) recommendations regarding the feasibility of the | ||
requirements described by Subsection (b) of this section; and | ||
(3) legislation necessary to implement the | ||
recommendations made under Subdivision (2) of this subsection. | ||
(e) This section expires and the task force is abolished | ||
January 1, 2019. | ||
SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |