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          AN ACT
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        relating to the eligibility of certain providers of laboratory  | 
      
      
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        services to participate in programs administered by health and  | 
      
      
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        human services agencies or the Health and Human Services  | 
      
      
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        Commission. | 
      
      
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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 531.066 to read as follows: | 
      
      
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               Sec. 531.066.  PARTICIPATION OF DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY  | 
      
      
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        SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS.  Notwithstanding any other  | 
      
      
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        law, a diagnostic laboratory may participate as an in-state  | 
      
      
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        provider under any program administered by a health and human  | 
      
      
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        services agency or the commission that involves diagnostic  | 
      
      
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        laboratory services, regardless of the location where any specific  | 
      
      
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        service is performed or where the laboratory's facilities are  | 
      
      
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        located if: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  the laboratory or an entity that is a parent,  | 
      
      
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        subsidiary, or other affiliate of the laboratory maintains  | 
      
      
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        diagnostic laboratory operations in this state; | 
      
      
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                     (2)  the laboratory and each entity that is a parent,  | 
      
      
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        subsidiary, or other affiliate of the laboratory, individually or  | 
      
      
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        collectively, employ at least 1,000 persons at places of employment  | 
      
      
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        located in this state; and | 
      
      
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                     (3)  the laboratory is otherwise qualified to provide  | 
      
      
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        the services under the program and is not prohibited from  | 
      
      
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        participating as a provider under any benefits programs  | 
      
      
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        administered by a health and human services agency or the  | 
      
      
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        commission based on conduct that constitutes fraud, waste, or  | 
      
      
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        abuse. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 2.  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, 2013. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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           President of the Senate | 
        Speaker of the House      | 
      
      
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               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1401 passed the Senate on  | 
      
      
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        May 1, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Secretary of the Senate     | 
      
      
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               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1401 passed the House on  | 
      
      
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        May 20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, one  | 
      
      
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        present not voting. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Chief Clerk of the House    | 
      
      
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        Approved: | 
      
      
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        ______________________________  | 
      
      
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                    Date | 
      
      
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        ______________________________  | 
      
      
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                  Governor |