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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing an account to create a program to pay off |
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certain outstanding debts attributed to medical expenses; making an |
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appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 403.1101 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 403.1101. MEDICAL DEBTS REPAYMENT ACCOUNT. (a) The |
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comptroller shall establish an account to create a program to pay |
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off for certain individuals who reside in this state outstanding |
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debts attributed to medical expenses. |
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(b) An individual is eligible to have outstanding medical |
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debts paid off only if the individual is a resident of this state |
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and has: |
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(1) a household income of 400 percent of the federal |
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poverty level or less; or |
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(2) debts attributed to medical expenses in a total |
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amount that exceeds five percent of the individual's annual income. |
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(c) In implementing the program, the comptroller shall work |
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directly with hospitals, debt collection agencies, and others to |
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purchase an individual's medical debts at a reduced price. |
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(d) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to |
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establish the account and to create the program to pay off |
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outstanding debts attributed to medical expenses. |
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SECTION 2. The amount of $100 million is appropriated from |
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the general revenue fund to the comptroller of public accounts of |
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the State of Texas for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2023, to provide the payments required by Section 1 of |
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this Act and to pay costs incurred by the comptroller in |
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facilitating the program established under that section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |