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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for and the administration of the child |
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health plan program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.002(4), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(4) "Net [Gross] family income" means the [total] |
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amount of income established for a family after reduction for |
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offsets for expenses such as child care and work-related expenses, |
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in accordance with standards applicable under the Medicaid [without
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consideration of any reduction for offsets that may be available to
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the family under any other] program. |
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SECTION 2. Section 62.101(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission shall establish income eligibility |
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levels consistent with Title XXI, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. |
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Section 1397aa et seq.), as amended, and any other applicable law or |
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regulations, and subject to the availability of appropriated money, |
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so that a child who is younger than 19 years of age and whose net |
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[gross] family income is at or below 200 percent of the federal |
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poverty level is eligible for health benefits coverage under the |
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program. [In addition, the commission may establish eligibility
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standards regarding the amount and types of allowable assets for a
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family whose gross family income is above 150 percent of the federal
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poverty level.] |
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SECTION 3. Section 62.102, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.102. CONTINUOUS COVERAGE. The commission shall |
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provide that an individual who is determined to be eligible for |
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coverage under the child health plan remains eligible for those |
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benefits until the earlier of: |
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(1) the end of a period, not to exceed 12 months, [the
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six-month period] following the date of the eligibility |
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determination; or |
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(2) the individual's 19th birthday. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |