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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a task force to study the financing |
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options for early childhood intervention services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "executive commissioner" |
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means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(b) The executive commissioner shall establish a task force |
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to study and make recommendations regarding the feasibility of |
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requiring: |
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(1) private group health benefit plan coverage for |
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early childhood intervention services, including speech therapy |
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services, regardless of whether the services are necessitated by an |
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illness, injury, or cognitive defect; and |
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(2) private group health benefit plan issuers to |
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include providers of early childhood intervention services in their |
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provider networks. |
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(c) Subject to this subsection, the executive commissioner |
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shall determine the size and composition of the task force. The |
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executive commissioner shall appoint the members of the task force, |
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which must include representatives of: |
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(1) early childhood intervention services providers; |
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(2) advocacy groups that provide policy advocacy for |
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recipients of early childhood intervention services; |
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(3) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(4) the Texas Department of Insurance; and |
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(5) private group health benefit plan issuers. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2018, the task force shall |
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submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the |
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legislature that includes: |
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(1) the results of the task force's study; |
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(2) recommendations regarding the feasibility of the |
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requirements described by Subsection (b) of this section; and |
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(3) legislation necessary to implement the |
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recommendations made under Subdivision (2) of this subsection. |
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(e) This section expires and the task force is abolished |
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January 1, 2019. |
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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, 2017. |