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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility requirements for the specialized |
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telecommunications assistance program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 56.151(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The executive commissioner, after consulting with the |
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department, by rule shall establish a specialized |
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telecommunications assistance program to provide financial |
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assistance to individuals diagnosed by a medical professional as a |
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deaf individual, an individual who has an impairment of hearing, or |
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an individual who has an impairment of speech [with disabilities
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that impair the individuals' ability to effectively access the
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telephone network] to assist the individuals with the purchase of |
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basic specialized equipment or services to provide the individuals |
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with telephone network access that is functionally equivalent to |
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that enjoyed by individuals without disabilities of hearing or |
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speech. The executive commissioner may adopt rules that identify |
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devices and services eligible for vouchers under the program. |
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SECTION 2. Section 56.152, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.152. ELIGIBILITY. The executive commissioner, |
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after consulting with the department, by rule shall prescribe |
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eligibility standards for individuals, including deaf individuals |
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and individuals who have an impairment of hearing or speech, to |
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receive an assistance voucher under the program. To be eligible, an |
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individual must: |
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(1) be a resident of this state; |
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(2) be diagnosed by a medical professional as a deaf |
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individual, an individual who has an impairment of hearing, or an |
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individual who has an impairment of speech; and |
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(3) have an income at or below 150 percent of the |
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federal poverty guidelines [with a disability that impairs the
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individual's ability to effectively access the telephone network]. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 56.153(d) and (e), Utilities Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) An individual who has exchanged a voucher for a |
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specialized telecommunications device is not eligible to receive |
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another voucher before the fifth anniversary of the date the |
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individual exchanged the previously issued voucher unless, before |
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that date, the recipient develops a need for a different type of |
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telecommunications device or service under the program because the |
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recipient's diagnosis has changed to the extent that the device is |
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no longer adequate to meet the individual's network access needs |
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[disability changes or the recipient acquires another disability]. |
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(e) Except as provided by rules adopted under this |
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subsection, an individual is not eligible for a voucher if the |
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department has issued a voucher for a device or service to another |
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individual with the same diagnosis [type of disability] in the |
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individual's household. The executive commissioner, after |
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consulting with the department, by rule may provide for financially |
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independent individuals who reside in a congregate setting to be |
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eligible for a voucher regardless of whether another individual |
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living in that setting has received a voucher. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |