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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to ensuring the functionality of the Texas Integrated |
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Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) and benefits eligibility |
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determination processes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 531, Government Code, as |
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added by Chapter 1110 (H.B. 3575), Acts of the 80th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2007, is amended by adding Sections 531.4551 and |
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531.4552 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.4551. STAFFING ANALYSIS FOR ENHANCED ELIGIBILITY |
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SYSTEM. (a) The commission shall conduct a thorough analysis of |
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staffing needs, including the need for additional state employees |
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and contractor staff, with respect to the enhanced eligibility |
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system and the expansion of the use of the Texas Integrated |
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Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS). The commission shall identify |
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in the analysis: |
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(1) the number of full-time equivalent positions the |
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commission needs to implement the system in a manner that, if met, |
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will ensure that the system remains fully functional and that no |
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lapses in the provision of health and human services program |
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benefits will occur under the system; and |
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(2) the number of full-time equivalent positions any |
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contractor would need to perform contracted functions to implement |
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the system in that manner. |
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(b) In determining the total number of commission and |
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contractor full-time equivalent positions needed as required by |
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Subsection (a), the commission shall consider the number of |
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full-time equivalent positions necessary to comply with: |
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(1) state and federal requirements related to health |
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and human services program access, including requirements related |
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to timeliness and accuracy of application processing, delivery of |
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expedited services and benefits, and seamless transfers of eligible |
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children between the Medicaid and child health plan programs; and |
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(2) the commission's performance standards and |
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benchmarks for health and human services programs, including |
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maximum caseload specifications. |
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Sec. 531.4552. PREREQUISITES TO TIERS EXPANSION. The |
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commission shall ensure that the use of the Texas Integrated |
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Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) will not be expanded to |
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additional counties, and no additional health and human services |
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program benefits cases will be converted to that system, until the |
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system: |
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(1) is fully functional; |
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(2) meets state and federal requirements related to |
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timeliness and accuracy of benefits application processing; and |
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(3) has the hardware capacity to effectively and |
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efficiently process existing cases in each region proposed to be |
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converted to that system. |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2009. |