H.B. No. 321
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a pilot program by the Health and
  Human Services Commission to accept importation of electronic
  eligibility information from a regional indigent care provider.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.02413 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.02413. ELECTRONIC ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION PILOT
  PROJECT. (a) The commission shall establish a pilot project in at
  least one urban area of this state to determine the feasibility,
  costs, and benefits of accepting, for the purpose of establishing
  eligibility for benefits under state and federal health and human
  services programs administered by the commission, the direct
  importation of electronic eligibility information from an
  electronic system operated by a regional indigent care
  collaborative system.
         (b)  An area selected for the pilot project under this
  section must possess a functioning indigent care collaborative
  system that includes a network of providers and assesses
  eligibility for health and human services programs using electronic
  systems. The electronic systems used by the collaborative system
  must be able to interface with electronic systems managed by the
  commission to enable the commission to import application and
  eligibility information regarding applicants for health and human
  services programs.
         (c)  In establishing a pilot project under this section, the
  commission shall:
               (1)  focus on creating a project in which electronic
  applications for indigent care created by a regional indigent care
  network may be shared with the commission to facilitate enrollment
  in health and human services programs administered by the
  commission;
               (2)  solicit and obtain support for the project from
  local officials and indigent care providers;
               (3)  ensure that all identifying and descriptive
  information of recipients in each health and human services program
  included in the project can only be accessed by providers or other
  entities participating in the project; and
               (4)  ensure that the storage and communication of all
  identifying and descriptive information included in the project
  complies with existing federal and state privacy laws governing
  individually identifiable information for recipients of public
  benefits programs.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than the 180th day after the effective
  date of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall
  take action to begin implementation of the pilot project
  established under Section 531.02413, Government Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2008, the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall:
               (1)  assess the cost-effectiveness, efficacy,
  efficiency, and benefits of using electronic eligibility
  information imported from electronic systems operated by regional
  indigent care collaborative systems;  and
               (2)  report the commission's findings resulting from
  the pilot project established under Section 531.02413, Government
  Code, as added by this Act, to the standing committees of the senate
  and the house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over
  health and human services issues.
         SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 321 was passed by the House on April
  27, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 132, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 321 was passed by the Senate on May
  18, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor