1-1     By:  Naishtat, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)     H.B. No. 820
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999;
 1-3     May 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
 1-4     Services; May 13, 1999, rereferred to Committee on Human Services;
 1-5     May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5,
 1-6     Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-7                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-8                                   AN ACT
 1-9     relating to review of certain children's continued eligibility for
1-10     medical assistance.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
1-13     is amended by adding Section 32.0251 to read as follows:
1-14           Sec. 32.0251.  ELIGIBILITY REVIEW FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.  (a)
1-15     The department shall establish and implement procedures under which
1-16     the department automatically reviews a child's eligibility for
1-17     medical assistance if:
1-18                 (1)  the child originally establishes eligibility  for
1-19     medical assistance on the basis of receipt of financial assistance
1-20     under Chapter 31, as provided by Section 32.025(a); and
1-21                 (2)  that receipt of financial assistance under Chapter
1-22     31 ceases.
1-23           (b)  The department shall ensure that the child continues  to
1-24     receive medical assistance without a gap in eligibility if the
1-25     review required by this section indicates that the child is
1-26     eligible for medical assistance on another basis.
1-27           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-28     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-29     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-30     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-31     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-32     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-33     passage, and it is so enacted.
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