By Tillery                                            H.B. No. 2355
         77R5099 JAT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to eligibility of a newborn child for the state child
 1-3     health plan.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 62.101, Health and Safety Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 1-7           (d)  A child who is eligible for health benefits coverage
 1-8     under the child health plan is entitled to benefits for health care
 1-9     services provided to the child from the time of the child's birth
1-10     if the child applies to enroll in the program not later than the
1-11     30th day after the date the child is born.
1-12           SECTION 2.  (a)  The Health and Human Services Commission,
1-13     not later than September 15, 2001, shall submit for approval a plan
1-14     amendment relating to the state child health plan under 42 U.S.C.
1-15     Section 1397ff, as amended, as necessary to comply with the change
1-16     in law made by this Act.
1-17           (b)  The Health and Human Services Commission may delay,
1-18     until approval of the amended state child health plan,
1-19     implementation of the changes to the delivery of services required
1-20     by Section 62.101(d), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
1-21           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
1-22     applies only to a child born on or after that date. A child born
1-23     before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in
1-24     effect on the date the child was born, and the former law is
 2-1     continued in effect for that purpose.