79R7700 RMB-D

By:  Solis                                                        H.B. No. 2396



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a program to provide information on healthy lifestyle 
choices and wellness to recipients under the medical assistance 
program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 
is amended by adding Section 32.068 to read as follows:
	Sec. 32.068.  WELLNESS EDUCATION PROGRAM.  (a)  The 
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission 
by rule shall establish a program to provide information about 
healthy lifestyle choices and personal wellness to recipients of 
medical assistance.  The program must include appropriate classes 
and literature on healthy lifestyle choices and personal wellness 
topics.
	(b)  Each recipient under the medical assistance program or, 
if the recipient is a child, the recipient's parent or guardian, 
must be provided a schedule of classes organized by the Health and 
Human Services Commission and a packet of information about healthy 
lifestyle choices and personal wellness as soon as possible after 
the recipient is determined to be eligible for medical assistance.
	(c)  The Health and Human Services Commission or, if directed 
by the commission, an appropriate health and human services agency, 
as defined by Section 531.001, Government Code, shall provide for 
the distribution of wellness literature and current copies of the 
schedule of wellness classes by posting the literature and schedule 
of classes on the appropriate agency's Internet website.  In 
addition, the commission or appropriate agency shall mail copies of 
the wellness literature and schedule of classes to any person, 
health care provider, school, or employer on request.
	SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.