| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to an annual study and report regarding asset information |
|
|
of certain applicants for certain assistance programs. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 531.0999 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 531.0999. ASSET INFORMATION STUDY; ANNUAL REPORT. (a) |
|
|
In this section, "assistance program" means: |
|
|
(1) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, |
|
|
Human Resources Code; |
|
|
(2) the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, |
|
|
Human Resources Code; and |
|
|
(3) the supplemental nutrition assistance program |
|
|
under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code. |
|
|
(b) The commission shall collect asset information from a |
|
|
person applying for benefits under an assistance program. Using |
|
|
that information, the commission shall conduct an annual study to |
|
|
determine whether any person applying for benefits in the past year |
|
|
under an assistance program: |
|
|
(1) possessed financial assets at the time of |
|
|
application that would have disqualified the person for benefits |
|
|
under the assistance program for which the person applied before |
|
|
the effective date of applicable provisions of the Patient |
|
|
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148); and |
|
|
(2) qualified for benefits under the assistance |
|
|
program for which the person applied. |
|
|
(c) Not later than March 31 of each year, the commission |
|
|
shall electronically deliver a report on the results of the study |
|
|
conducted under Subsection (b) to the governor and each member of |
|
|
the legislature. |
|
|
(d) A report under this section may consist solely of |
|
|
statistical information and |
|
|
shall not include any personally |
|
|
identifying information of any person applying for benefits under |
|
|
an assistance program. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The Health and Human Services Commission shall |
|
|
deliver the initial report required by Section 531.0999, Government |
|
|
Code, as added by this Act, not later than March 31, 2014. |
|
|
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, 2013. |