79R1710 KLA-D

By:  Naishtat                                                     H.B. No. 711



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain financial assistance 
recipients for medical assistance.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.0032(c), Human Resources Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(c)  The [To the extent allowed by federal law, the] Health 
and Human Services Commission or any health and human services 
agency, as defined by Section 531.001, Government Code, may not
deny medical assistance for a person who is eligible for financial 
assistance solely because the financial [but to whom that] 
assistance is not paid to the person as a result of [because of] the 
person's failure to cooperate.  [Medical assistance to the person's 
family may not be denied for the person's failure to cooperate.  
Medical assistance may not be denied to a person receiving 
assistance under this chapter who is under the age of 19, a pregnant 
adult, or any other person who may not be denied medical assistance 
under federal law.]
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a 
person who is eligible to receive financial assistance under 
Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on or after the effective date of 
this Act, regardless of the date on which that eligibility was 
determined.
	SECTION 3.  If before implementing any provision of this Act 
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a 
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, 
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or 
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the 
waiver or authorization is granted.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.