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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state coordination of transportation services for |
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certain clients of health and human services agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 455.0015, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The [Texas Department of Health and the] Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall contract with the department for |
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the department to deliver [assume all responsibilities of the Texas
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Department of Health and the Health and Human Services Commission
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relating to the provision of] transportation services to [for] |
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clients of eligible programs. The department may not assume |
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responsibility for client case review, case management, or |
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coordination or authorization of benefits. Department employees |
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and contractors shall refer all inquiries concerning social service |
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program benefit coverage, program benefit authorization, or |
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program benefit coordination directly to the Health and Human |
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Services Commission or the Texas Workforce Commission, as |
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appropriate, for resolution. The department shall hold at least |
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one public hearing to solicit the views of the public concerning the |
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transition of transportation services to the department under this |
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subsection and shall meet with and consider the views of interested |
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persons, including persons representing transportation clients. |
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(e) A client of an eligible program administered by the |
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Health and Human Services Commission or the Texas Workforce |
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Commission must seek reimbursement or advance funding under that |
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program directly from the Health and Human Services Commission or |
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the Texas Workforce Commission, as appropriate, for costs related |
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to the provision of transportation services other than public |
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transportation services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 461.002, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 461.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Public transportation provider" means any entity |
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that provides public transportation services if it is a |
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governmental entity or if it receives funds [financial assistance] |
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from a governmental entity, whether state, local, or federal. The |
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term does not include private carriers that do not receive funds |
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[financial assistance] from a governmental entity. It also does |
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not include a person who provides intercity rail or bus service, |
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commercial air transportation, water transportation, or nonstop |
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service to or from a point located outside this state, unless, and |
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to the extent to which, the person receives funds from a |
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governmental entity for that service. If a person provides both |
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public transportation services and services that are not public |
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transportation services, that person is included within the term |
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only with regard to the provision of public transportation services |
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and to the extent of those public transportation services. |
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(2) "Public transportation services" means any |
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conveyance of passengers and their hand-carried baggage by a |
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governmental entity or by a private entity if the private entity |
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receives funds [financial assistance] for that conveyance from any |
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governmental entity. It does not include intercity rail or bus |
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service, commercial air transportation, water transportation, or |
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nonstop service to or from a point located outside this state, |
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unless, and to the extent to which, the person receives funds from a |
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governmental entity for that service. |
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SECTION 3. Section 461.003(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission by rule may: |
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(1) subject to Section 455.0015, require a state |
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agency that is responsible for ensuring the provision of public |
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transportation services to contract with the department for the |
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department to assume the responsibilities of that agency relating |
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to the provision of public transportation services; and |
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(2) require a public transportation provider to |
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provide detailed information on its provision of public |
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transportation services, including revenues, routes, maps, |
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categories of passengers served, number of passengers served, and |
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equipment use and condition. |
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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. |