80R10352 KLA-D

By: Rose H.B. No. 3574

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the redesigned integrated eligibility and benefits determination system for health and human services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF REDESIGNED INTEGRATED ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS DETERMINATION SYSTEM. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall develop a plan for the implementation of the redesigned integrated eligibility and benefits determination system for health and human services in additional regions of this state.

(b) The plan must:

(1) identify the criteria for determining whether the system should be implemented in an additional region of this state, including performance criteria on any readiness assessment test for the system; and

(2) provide for oversight of the conversion to the system in any additional areas.

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR INTEGRATED ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS DETERMINATION. (a) In this section, "committee" means the integrated eligibility and benefits determination system oversight committee.

(b) The committee is composed of:

(1) the chair of the House Human Services Committee, or its successor;

(2) the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, or its successor;

(3) the chair of the House Public Health Committee, or its successor;

(4) one member of the Senate Finance Committee, or its successor, appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(5) one member of the House Appropriations Committee, or its successor, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The members of the committee shall elect a presiding officer.

(d) The committee meets at the call of the presiding officer.

(e) The committee shall monitor and assess:

(1) the performance of persons and entities contracting with the Health and Human Services Commission to implement the redesigned integrated eligibility and benefits determination system for health and human services, including persons and entities contracting under Section 531.063, Government Code, for the operation of a call center;

(2) the performance of subcontractors of the contractors described by Subdivision (1) that contract to implement a component of the system; and

(3) the implementation of the Texas Integrated Eligibility and Redesign System.

(f) The committee shall submit periodic reports to the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over health and human services programs. The reports must specify any performance criteria included in a contract described by Subsection (e)(1) or (2) of this section with which a contractor is not complying.

SECTION 3. REQUIRED PROVISIONS FOR INTEGRATED ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS DETERMINATION CONTRACTS. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall ensure that contract provisions requiring effective communications are included in:

(1) each contract with a person or entity for the implementation of a component of the redesigned integrated eligibility and benefits determination system for health and human services, including a contract under Section 531.063, Government Code, for the operation of a call center; and

(2) each contract between a contractor described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection and a subcontractor for the implementation of a component of the system.

(b) The provisions required by Subsection (a) of this section must include specific requirements regarding:

(1) communication between the commission and the contractor or subcontractor; and

(2) communication between the legislature and the contractor or subcontractor.

(c) In addition to the requirements prescribed by Subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the executive commissioner shall ensure that a contract between the commission and a contractor described by Subsection (a)(1) of this section clearly specifies the entity responsible for making the ultimate determination of eligibility of an applicant for a health and human services program.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.