Amend HB 3021 as follows:
      (1)  In Article 3.70-3D, Insurance Code, as added by SECTION
5 of the bill (Committee Printing page 4, lines 52-69 and page 5,
lines 1-17) by striking SECTION 5 and substituting the following:
      SECTION 5.  Subchapter G, Chapter 3, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Article 3.70-3D to read as follows:
      Art. 3.70-3D.  CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR HEALTH
MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS.  (a)  The consumer assistance program
for health maintenance organizations is established.  The
commissioner may contract, through a request for proposals, with a
nonprofit organization to operate the program.
      (b)  The program shall:
            (1)  assist individual consumers in complaints or
appeals within the operation of a health maintenance organization,
and outside of the operation of a health maintenance organization,
including appeals under Article 21.58A of this code or in Medicaid
and Medicare fair hearings; and
            (2)  refer consumers to other programs or agencies if
appropriate.
      (c)  The program may:
            (1)  operate a statewide clearinghouse for objective
consumer information about health care coverage, including options
for obtaining health care coverage; and
            (2)  accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source
for the purpose of operating the program.  The program may charge
reasonable fees to consumers to support the program.
      (d)  The commissioner or an entity contracting with the
commissioner to implement this article may establish an advisory
committee composed of consumers, health care providers, and health
care plan representatives.
      (e)  A nonprofit organization contracting with the
commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) must not be involved in
providing health care or health care plans and must demonstrate
that it has expertise in providing direct assistance to consumers
with respect to their concerns and problems with health maintenance
organizations.
      (2)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION and
renumber subsequent sections accordingly:
      SECTION ____.  The changes made by Section 5 of this Act do
not take effect unless the legislature appropriates money
specifically for the purpose of administering that section.