Bill Text: TX HB2610 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to facilitating access to certain public assistance benefits programs and health care providers and services through a community-based navigator program and through promotoras and community health workers.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/11 [HB2610 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2610-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to facilitating access to certain public assistance benefits programs and health care providers and services through a community-based navigator program and through promotoras and community health workers.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/11 [HB2610 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2610-Introduced.html
82R4749 EES-D | ||
By: Guillen | H.B. No. 2610 |
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relating to the establishment of a community-based navigator | ||
program to assist individuals applying or seeking to apply through | ||
the Internet for certain public assistance benefits programs. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter S to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER S. COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATOR PROGRAM | ||
Sec. 531.751. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Community-based organization" and "faith-based | ||
organization" have the meanings assigned by Section 535.001. | ||
(2) "Navigator" means a person who is: | ||
(A) a volunteer or other representative of a | ||
faith- or community-based organization; and | ||
(B) certified by the commission to provide or | ||
facilitate the provision of information or assistance through the | ||
faith- or community-based organization to individuals applying or | ||
seeking to apply online through the Texas Integrated Eligibility | ||
Redesign System (TIERS) or any other electronic eligibility system | ||
that is linked to or made a part of that system for public | ||
assistance benefits administered by the commission. | ||
Sec. 531.752. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATOR | ||
PROGRAM. The commission, in consultation with the Navigator | ||
Program Advisory Committee established under Section 531.756, | ||
shall establish a statewide community-based navigator program | ||
through which the commission will recruit, train, and certify as | ||
navigators volunteers and other representatives of faith- and | ||
community-based organizations to assist individuals applying or | ||
seeking to apply online for public assistance benefits through the | ||
Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) or any other | ||
electronic eligibility system that is linked to or made a part of | ||
that system. | ||
Sec. 531.753. PROGRAM RULES. The executive commissioner | ||
shall adopt rules to implement this subchapter, including rules: | ||
(1) subject to Section 531.754, regarding the | ||
qualifications and training required for certification as a | ||
navigator; | ||
(2) regarding the suspension, revocation, and, if | ||
appropriate, periodic renewal of a navigator certificate; | ||
(3) to protect the confidentiality of applicant | ||
information handled by navigators; and | ||
(4) regarding any other issues the executive | ||
commissioner determines are appropriate. | ||
Sec. 531.754. TRAINING PROGRAM. The commission shall | ||
develop and administer a training program for navigators. The | ||
program must include training on: | ||
(1) how to complete an online application for public | ||
assistance benefits through the Texas Integrated Eligibility | ||
Redesign System (TIERS); | ||
(2) the importance of maintaining the confidentiality | ||
of information handled by a navigator; | ||
(3) the importance of obtaining and submitting | ||
complete and accurate information when completing an application | ||
for public assistance benefits online through the Texas Integrated | ||
Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS); | ||
(4) the financial assistance program, the | ||
supplemental nutrition assistance program, the medical assistance | ||
program, the child health plan program, and any other public | ||
assistance benefits program for which an individual may complete an | ||
online application through the Texas Integrated Eligibility | ||
Redesign System (TIERS); and | ||
(5) how an individual may apply for other public | ||
assistance benefits for which an individual may not complete an | ||
online application through the Texas Integrated Eligibility | ||
Redesign System (TIERS). | ||
Sec. 531.755. PUBLICATION OF NAVIGATOR LIST. The | ||
commission shall maintain and publish on the commission's Internet | ||
website a list of certified navigators. | ||
Sec. 531.756. NAVIGATOR PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) | ||
The executive commissioner shall establish the Navigator Program | ||
Advisory Committee to assist in the development and implementation | ||
of the navigator program under this subchapter. | ||
(b) The advisory committee must include representatives of | ||
faith- and community-based organizations. | ||
(c) The advisory committee members must be representative | ||
of the geographic, religious, and racial diversity of this state | ||
and the diversity of organization types and sizes in this state. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the | ||
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission | ||
shall establish the Navigator Program Advisory Committee as | ||
required by Section 531.756, Government Code, as added by this Act. | ||
(b) Not later than September 1, 2012, the Health and Human | ||
Services Commission shall establish the navigator program required | ||
by Subchapter S, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by this Act. | ||
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, 2011. |