1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a study and a pilot program regarding the provision of
1-3 medical assistance and certain health benefits plan coverage for
1-4 children of migrant or seasonal agricultural workers.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 531.055 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 531.055. MIGRANT CARE NETWORK STUDY; PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
1-9 In this section, "migrant or seasonal agricultural worker" means an
1-10 individual who:
1-11 (1) is working or available for work seasonally or
1-12 temporarily in primarily an agricultural or agriculture-related
1-13 industry; and
1-14 (2) moves one or more times from one place to another
1-15 to perform seasonal or temporary employment or to be available for
1-16 seasonal or temporary employment.
1-17 (b) The commission shall conduct a study regarding the
1-18 feasibility of contracting with one or more existing networks of
1-19 health care providers located in this state and in other states to
1-20 establish a migrant care network to provide health care services to
1-21 children of migrant or seasonal agricultural workers who are
1-22 residents of this state and intend to return to this state at the
1-23 conclusion of temporary or seasonal employment in another state and
1-24 who are:
2-1 (1) recipients of medical assistance under Chapter 32,
2-2 Human Resources Code; or
2-3 (2) enrollees in the child health plan program under
2-4 Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code, or the health benefits plan
2-5 program under Chapter 63, Health and Safety Code.
2-6 (c) In conducting the study under this section, the
2-7 commission shall:
2-8 (1) consider migrant work patterns to determine in
2-9 which states the migrant care network is most needed to adequately
2-10 provide the medical assistance, child health plan coverage, or
2-11 health benefits plan coverage;
2-12 (2) examine the necessity and fiscal effect of
2-13 entering into interstate agreements to establish the migrant care
2-14 network; and
2-15 (3) determine whether ensuring the provision of health
2-16 care services under the medical assistance program, the child
2-17 health plan program, and the health benefits plan program for
2-18 children of migrant or seasonal agricultural workers during the
2-19 time in which a child is outside of this state is necessary to
2-20 maintain continuity of care for the child.
2-21 (d) If, based on the results of the study under this
2-22 section, the commission determines that the establishment of a
2-23 migrant care network is feasible, the commission shall develop and
2-24 implement a pilot program for that purpose. The commission by rule
2-25 shall establish eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot
2-26 program.
2-27 (e) The commission shall report its findings and
3-1 recommendations regarding the establishment of a migrant care
3-2 network to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the standing
3-3 committees of the senate and house of representatives having
3-4 primary jurisdiction over the commission. The commission shall
3-5 make the report:
3-6 (1) on completion of the study required by this
3-7 section if the commission determines that the establishment of the
3-8 migrant care network is not feasible; or
3-9 (2) on implementation of the pilot program required by
3-10 this section if the commission determines that the establishment of
3-11 the migrant care network is feasible.
3-12 (f) This section expires September 1, 2003.
3-13 SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a
3-14 state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
3-15 federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
3-16 the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
3-17 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
3-18 waiver or authorization is granted.
3-19 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1537 was passed by the House on May
8, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 73, Nays 68, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1537 was passed by the Senate on May
23, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor