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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of child life services and the coverage |
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of child life services under Medicaid and health benefit plans; |
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requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 3, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 508 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 508. CHILD LIFE SERVICES |
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Sec. 508.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Child life services" means the psychosocial |
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support provided to pediatric patients and to the children of |
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seriously ill adult patients by helping improve a child's coping |
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skills, aiding in the development of holistic pain management and |
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other symptom management strategies, and improving the overall |
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patient experience. |
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(2) "Child life specialist" means an individual |
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licensed under this chapter to provide child life services. |
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(3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state |
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health services. |
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(4) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(5) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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Sec. 508.002. LICENSE REQUIRED. A person may not offer or |
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provide child life services unless the person holds a child life |
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specialist license issued under this chapter. |
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Sec. 508.003. LICENSE APPLICATION AND ISSUANCE; FEE. (a) |
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An applicant for a license under this chapter shall submit to the |
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executive commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by rule |
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by the executive commissioner, an application for a license to |
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provide child life services under this chapter. |
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(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall set the amount |
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of an application fee. |
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(c) The department shall issue a license under this chapter |
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to a person who: |
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(1) is at least 18 years of age; and |
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(2) submits: |
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(A) a completed application under Subsection |
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(a); |
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(B) the fee required under Section 508.004; and |
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(C) any other information the executive |
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commissioner requires by rule. |
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Sec. 508.004. LICENSE FEE. The fee for a license under this |
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chapter is $120. |
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Sec. 508.005. LICENSE TERM. The executive commissioner by |
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rule shall establish the term of a license issued under this |
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chapter. |
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Sec. 508.006. PRACTICE SETTING AND CLIENT POPULATION |
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CERTIFICATIONS; FEES. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the |
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department may issue to the holder of a license issued under this |
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chapter a certification for the practice of child life services in a |
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practice setting or with a client population not authorized by a |
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license issued under this chapter. A certification issued under |
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this section expires at the same time as the license held by the |
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certification holder. |
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(b) The holder of a license issued under this chapter is |
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eligible for a certification if the license holder: |
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(1) submits: |
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(A) the fee required under this section; and |
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(B) any other information the executive |
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commissioner requires by rule; and |
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(2) satisfies eligibility requirements the executive |
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commissioner establishes by rule. |
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(c) The eligibility requirements the executive commissioner |
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establishes by rule under Subsection (b)(2) must include the |
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applicant's successful completion of at least 12 units of |
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continuing education as approved by the commission in the subject |
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area of the certification. |
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(d) The commission may issue a certification in the |
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following practice setting and client population specializations: |
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(1) supportive palliative care and hospice for |
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pediatric patients; |
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(2) supportive palliative care and hospice for |
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children of adult patients; |
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(3) neurodiverse populations; |
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(4) trauma-informed care; |
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(5) grief and bereavement; |
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(6) facility animal handler; |
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(7) disaster relief; |
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(8) critical care; |
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(9) hematology and oncology; |
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(10) community-based services; and |
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(11) any other specialization the commission |
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considers to be specific to and within the scope of child life. |
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(e) The fee for a certification issued under this chapter is |
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$90. |
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Sec. 508.007. LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION RENEWAL; RENEWAL |
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FEE. (a) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe |
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requirements for the renewal of a license or certification issued |
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under this chapter. |
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(b) The fee for the renewal of: |
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(1) a license issued under this chapter is $90; and |
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(2) a certification issued under this chapter is $70. |
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Sec. 508.008. PRACTICE BY LICENSE HOLDER. The executive |
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commissioner by rule shall prescribe standards for the provision of |
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child life services. |
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Sec. 508.009. ENFORCEMENT. A person who violates this |
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chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter is subject to |
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disciplinary action by the commission. |
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Sec. 508.010. RULES. The executive commissioner shall |
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adopt the rules necessary to implement and enforce this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.0318 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.0318. REIMBURSEMENT FOR CHILD LIFE SERVICES. (a) |
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In this section: |
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(1) "Child life services" and "child life specialist" |
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have the meanings assigned by Section 508.001, Occupations Code. |
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(2) "Recipient" means a recipient of medical |
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assistance. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) ensure that medical assistance reimbursement is |
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provided to a child life specialist who provides child life |
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services to a recipient; and |
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(2) establish a separate provider type for child life |
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specialists for purposes of enrollment as a provider for and |
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reimbursement under the medical assistance program. |
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(c) Child life services provided to a recipient may be |
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provided in an in-person setting or remotely as a telehealth |
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service or telemedicine medical service. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. CHILD LIFE SERVICES |
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Sec. 1367.301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "child life |
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services" has the meaning assigned by Section 508.001, Occupations |
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Code. |
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Sec. 1367.302. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This |
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subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides |
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benefits for medical, surgical, or prescription drug expenses |
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incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness, |
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including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance |
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policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, |
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or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage |
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document that is issued by: |
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(1) an insurance company; |
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(2) a group hospital service corporation operating |
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under Chapter 842; |
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(3) a health maintenance organization operating under |
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Chapter 843; |
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(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that |
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holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844; |
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(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds |
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a certificate of authority under Chapter 846; |
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(6) a stipulated premium company operating under |
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Chapter 884; |
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(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under |
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Chapter 885; |
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(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or |
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(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies |
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to: |
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(1) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551; |
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(2) a basic plan under Chapter 1575; |
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(3) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579; |
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(4) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter |
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1601; and |
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(5) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, |
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Health and Safety Code. |
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Sec. 1367.303. COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A health benefit |
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plan must provide coverage for child life services provided by a |
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child life specialist licensed under Chapter 508, Occupations Code. |
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(b) A health benefit plan must provide coverage for a child |
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life service provided as a telemedicine medical service or |
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telehealth service on the same basis and to the same extent that the |
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plan provides coverage for the service in an in-person setting. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, |
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issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Not later than March 1, 2026, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 508, Occupations Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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(b) A person is not required to comply with Chapter 508, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act, until March 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 6. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |