AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) currently uses publicly available information on a driver's license to corroborate and verify information submitted by applicants for certain health and human services programs administered by HHSC, such as Medicaid.  The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) supplies HHSC with driver's license information in an effort to prevent ineligible applicants from receiving benefits under these programs.  Due to the prevalence of fraud among the programs administered by HHSC, private information regarding a person's Social Security number is needed to verify the contents of these applications.  H.B. 3787 seeks to prevent fraud and increase the efficiency of HHSC programs by allowing HHSC to obtain Social Security information provided on a driver's license application from DPS in a secure manner.

 

H.B. 3787 amends current law relating to the determination of an applicant's eligibility for any program administered by the Health and Human Services Commission.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 521.044(a) and (c), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(a)  Authorizes information provided on a driver’s license application that relates to the applicant’s social security number to be used only by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) or disclosed only to certain entities, including the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).  Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

(c)(1)  Creates this subdivision from existing text.  Makes no further changes to this subdivision.

 

(2)  Requires DPS, on the request of HHSC and for the purpose of assisting HHSC in determining an applicant’s eligibility for any program administered by HHSC, to disclose information regarding an applicant’s social security number.

 

SECTION 2.  Requires a state agency, if necessary for implementation of a provision of this Act, to request a waiver or authorization from a federal agency, and authorizes a delay of implementation until such a waiver or authorization is granted.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2013.