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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to information about services for women veterans provided |
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through certain state agency and hospital applications. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.212 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.212. APPLICATION FOR STATE AGENCY PROGRAMS, |
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SERVICES, OR ASSISTANCE OR HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) This |
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section applies to: |
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(1) a state agency in the executive branch of state |
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government, including a health and human services agency, that |
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provides to adult women in this state a program, a service, or |
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assistance, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families |
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program, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the |
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women's health program, Medicaid, the Special Supplemental |
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Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and a housing |
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program or service or housing assistance; and |
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(2) a hospital licensed under Chapter 241, Health and |
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Safety Code, that provides health care services to adult women in |
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this state. |
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(b) A state agency or hospital described by Subsection (a) |
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shall include in each application for a program, a service, or |
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assistance provided by the agency or hospital to adult women: |
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(1) a space to indicate whether the applicant is a |
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veteran; |
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(2) notice that on indication under Subdivision (1) |
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that the applicant is a veteran, the agency or hospital will forward |
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the applicant's information to the commission; and |
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(3) model language informing the applicant that she |
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may be entitled to additional services because of her veteran |
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status. |
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(c) On receipt of information provided under Subsection |
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(b), the commission shall enter the information into a database |
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established by the commission and contact the applicant to inform |
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her of any additional services for which the applicant may qualify |
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under state or federal law. |
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(d) The commission shall develop the model language |
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required on an application under Subsection (b)(3). The language |
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must include a link to the veterans website established under |
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Section 434.102 or, for an online application, a hyperlink to that |
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website. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 241.0075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 241.0075. COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN APPLICATION |
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REQUIREMENTS. A hospital shall comply with Section 434.212, |
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Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than December 1, 2018, the Texas |
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Veterans Commission shall develop the model application language |
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required by Section 434.212, Government Code, as added by this Act, |
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and post that information on the commission's Internet website. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2018, each state agency and |
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hospital subject to Section 434.212, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, shall modify the agency's or hospital's application for |
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programs, services, or assistance as necessary to implement that |
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section. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 434.212, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, a state agency or hospital is not required to |
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include information on the application as required by that section |
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before January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |