84R3583 PMO-D
 
  By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 818
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a health benefit exchange tailored
  to the needs of the state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) The Health and Human Services Commission,
  the Texas Department of Insurance, or the commission in conjunction
  with the department, shall negotiate with the appropriate federal
  entity for authorization to develop a state health benefit
  exchange. The negotiated authorization must allow the state health
  benefit exchange to be flexible, patient-friendly, tailored to the
  needs of the state, and similar to the health benefit exchange
  described in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub.
  L. No. 111-148).
         (b)  If the appropriate federal entity authorizes a state
  health benefit exchange described in Subsection (a) of this
  section, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas
  Department of Insurance, or the commission in conjunction with the
  department, shall develop and implement the health benefit
  exchange.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2015.