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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the continuation of medical assistance benefits for |
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individuals after release from confinement in a county jail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.02641, to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.02641. SUSPENSION AND AUTOMATIC REINSTATEMENT OF |
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ELIGIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS CONFINED IN COUNTY JAILS. (a) In this |
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section, "county jail" means a facility operated by or for a county |
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for the confinement of persons accused or convicted of an offense. |
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(b) An individual's eligibility for medical assistance is |
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suspended during the period the individual is confined in a county |
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jail. |
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(c) The eligibility of an individual for medical assistance |
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that is suspended as provided by Subsection (b) is automatically |
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reinstated on the date the individual is released from the county |
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jail, provided the individual's eligibility certification period |
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has not elapsed. Following the reinstatement, the individual |
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remains eligible until the expiration of the period for which the |
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individual was certified as eligible. |
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SECTION 2. Section 32.02641, Human Resources Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies to an individual whose period of confinement in |
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a county jail begins on or after the effective date of this Act, |
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regardless of the date the individual was determined eligible for |
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medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code. |
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SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |