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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain duties of a sheriff regarding a county jail |
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prisoner's health benefits coverage information. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 511.0098 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 511.0098. PRISONER HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE |
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INFORMATION; PAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) The commission |
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shall adopt procedures by which a sheriff may collect the following |
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from a prisoner who is covered by health insurance or other health |
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benefits coverage: |
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(1) the name of the policyholder or group contract |
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holder; |
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(2) the number of the policy or evidence of coverage; |
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(3) a copy of the health coverage membership card, if |
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available; and |
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(4) any other information necessary for the prisoner |
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to obtain benefits under the coverage. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require a sheriff to |
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collect the information and documentation described by Subsection |
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(a) for any prisoner in the sheriff's jurisdiction who is confined |
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in a county jail capable of confining 800 or more prisoners. |
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(c) A sheriff who arranges for health care services to be |
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provided to a prisoner for whom the sheriff has obtained health |
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insurance or other health benefits coverage information under this |
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section may: |
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(1) provide the information to a health care provider |
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or health care facility providing the services to the prisoner; and |
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(2) arrange for the issuer of the health insurance |
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policy or other health benefits coverage to pay for the services. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |