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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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GOVERNMENT CODE |
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Title 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH |
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Subtitle I. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
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Chapter 531. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION |
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Subchapter B. POWERS AND DUTIES |
Sec. 531.024182. VERIFICATION OF SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS RECIPIENTS; REIMBURSEMENT
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(a) In this section, "sponsored alien" means a person who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) and who, as a condition of admission, was sponsored by a person who executed an affidavit of support on behalf of the person.
(b) If, at the time of application for benefits, a person stated that the person is a sponsored alien, the commission may, to the extent allowed by federal law, verify information relating to the sponsorship, using an automated system or systems where available, after the person is determined eligible for and begins receiving benefits under any of the following benefits programs:
(1) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code;
(2) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
(3) the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; or
(4) the nutritional assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code.
(c) If the commission verifies that a person who receives benefits under a program listed in Subsection (b) is a sponsored alien, the commission may seek reimbursement from the person's sponsor for benefits provided to the person under those programs to the extent allowed by federal law, provided the commission determines that seeking reimbursement is cost-effective.
(d) If, at the time a person applies for benefits under a program listed in Subsection (b), the person states that the person is a sponsored alien, the commission shall make a reasonable effort to notify the person that the commission may seek reimbursement from the person's sponsor for any benefits the person receives under those programs.
(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules that specify the most cost-effective procedures by which the commission may seek reimbursement under Subsection (c).
(f) Nothing in this section adds to or changes the eligibility requirements for any of the benefits programs listed in Subsection (b).