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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing information to state employees regarding the |
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availability of Medicaid and other health benefits coverage for |
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their children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0661 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0661. BROCHURE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES RELATING TO |
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MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE. (a) The eligibility |
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services division of the commission and the Employees Retirement |
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System of Texas shall jointly develop and maintain a brochure for |
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distribution to state employees about the availability of: |
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(1) dependent child coverage under Section 1551.159, |
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Insurance Code; and |
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(2) medical assistance for a state employee's child |
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under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code. |
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(b) The brochure must: |
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(1) include: |
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(A) an eligibility chart and pricing information |
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for the dependent child coverage and medical assistance described |
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by Subsection (a); and |
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(B) telephone numbers for the Employees |
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Retirement System of Texas and the commission that a state employee |
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may call to obtain additional information about dependent child |
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coverage and medical assistance, respectively; and |
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(2) be updated not later than September 1 of each year. |
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(c) The commission and the Employees Retirement System of |
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Texas shall make the brochure and current applications for |
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dependent child coverage and medical assistance available on their |
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Internet websites in a format that allows other state agencies and |
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state employees to download and print the documents. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 651.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 651.011. DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION TO STATE |
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EMPLOYEES BY STATE AGENCIES. (a) In this section, "state agency" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 1551.003, Insurance Code. |
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(b) Each state agency shall provide each of the agency's |
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employees with a copy of the brochure regarding the availability of |
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certain health benefits coverage for their children that is |
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developed and maintained under Section 531.0661: |
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(1) on the date the employee begins employment with |
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the agency; and |
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(2) during each annual open enrollment period for |
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dependent child coverage under Section 1551.159, Insurance Code. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2009, the Health and |
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Human Services Commission and the Employees Retirement System of |
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Texas shall make the brochure required by Section 531.0661, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, and the applications |
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specified by that section available for download and printing from |
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their Internet websites. |
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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, 2009. |