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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. 531.045. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFERS
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(a) The interagency task force on electronic benefits transfers shall advise and assist the commission in adding new benefit programs to the statewide electronic benefits transfer system.
(b) The task force is composed of:
(1) a representative of:
(A) the attorney general's office, appointed by the attorney general;
(B) the comptroller's office, appointed by the comptroller;
(C) the commission, appointed by the commissioner;
(D) the Texas Department of Health, appointed by the commissioner of public health;
(E) the Texas Department of Human Services, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
(F) the Texas Workforce Commission, appointed by the executive director of that agency; and
(G) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, appointed by the commissioner of that agency; and
(2) two representatives of each of the following groups, appointed by the comptroller:
(A) retailers who maintain electronic benefits transfer point-of-sale equipment;
(B) banks or owners of automatic teller machines; and
(C) consumer or client advocacy organizations.
(c) A member of the task force serves at the will of the appointing agency.
(d) The representative of the comptroller's office serves as presiding officer. The task force may elect any other necessary officers.
(e) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.
(f) The appointing agency is responsible for the expenses of a member's service on the task force. A member of the task force is not entitled to additional compensation for serving on the task force.
(g) The task force shall:
(1) serve as this state's counterpoint to the federal electronic benefits transfer task force;
(2) identify benefit programs that merit addition to this state's electronic benefits transfer system;
(3) identify and address problems that may occur if a program is added;
(4) pursue state-federal partnerships to facilitate the development and expansion of this state's electronic benefits transfer system;
(5) track and distribute federal legislation and information from other states that relate to electronic benefits transfer systems;
(6) ensure efficiency and planning coordination in relation to this state's electronic benefits transfer system;
(7) develop a plan using the experience and expertise of appropriate state agencies for the use of a photograph or other imaging technology on all electronic benefits transfer cards and, if proven to be effective in reducing fraud and misuse, begin using the new cards starting with replacement cards for cards that were used in the program on June 13, 1995;
(8) review current and potential fraud problems with electronic benefits transfer and propose methods to prevent or deter fraud;
(9) evaluate the feasibility of adding the Medicaid program to the state's electronic benefits transfer system; and
(10) develop a plan to assist beneficiaries of public programs to obtain bank accounts.
(h) In determining which benefit programs can be added to this state's electronic benefits transfer system, the task force shall consider, at a minimum:
(1) the savings to this state;
(2) the ease of addition to existing infrastructure; and
(3) the number of clients served.
(i) A state agency that proposes to deliver public benefits through electronic benefits transfers shall comply with any strategic guidelines adopted by the task force relating to the development and use of an electronic benefits transfer system.