By Kitchen H.B. No. 2149 77R3606 CLG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to requiring the Health and Human Services Commission to 1-3 study the creation of an interactive web-based application system 1-4 for the state Medicaid program. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission 1-7 shall study the feasibility of creating a generally accessible and 1-8 interactive web-based application system for use in determining 1-9 eligibility for and enrolling persons eligible for Medicaid in the 1-10 state Medicaid program. 1-11 (b) The Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas 1-12 Department of Health, and the Department of Information Resources 1-13 shall cooperate with and assist the Health and Human Services 1-14 Commission in conducting this study. 1-15 (c) In conducting the study, the Health and Human Services 1-16 Commission shall: 1-17 (1) consider similar web-based initiatives being 1-18 implemented in other states; 1-19 (2) address the potential effect on enrollment in the 1-20 state Medicaid program; 1-21 (3) consider the potential effect on the processing of 1-22 applications, including time-savings; and 1-23 (4) consult with potential users of the system to 1-24 obtain input regarding any concerns those persons may have 2-1 regarding the use of an on-line application process. 2-2 SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2002, the Health and 2-3 Human Services Commission shall report its conclusions and 2-4 recommendations regarding the study conducted under Section 1 of 2-5 this Act to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of 2-6 the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the 2-7 standing committees of the senate and of the house of 2-8 representatives having primary jurisdiction over the commission. 2-9 SECTION 3. This Act expires September 1, 2003. 2-10 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-11 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-12 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-13 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-14 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.