(a) In this section, “public assistance program” includes:
(1) Medicaid;
(2) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; and
(3) a nutritional assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, including the supplemental nutrition assistance program under that chapter.
(a-1) The commission shall conduct electronic data matches for a recipient of benefits under a public assistance program at least quarterly to verify the identity, income, employment status, and other factors that affect the eligibility of the recipient.

(b) To verify eligibility of a recipient of public assistance program benefits, the electronic data matching must match information provided by the recipient with information contained in databases maintained by appropriate federal and state agencies.
(c) The health and human services agencies shall cooperate with the commission by providing data or any other assistance necessary to conduct the electronic data matches required by this section.
(c-1) The commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each state agency from which data is required to conduct electronic data matches under this section and § 531.1081.
(d) The commission may contract with a public or private entity to conduct the electronic data matches required by this section.
(e) The executive commissioner shall establish procedures by which the commission, or a health and human services agency designated by the commission, verifies the electronic data matches conducted by the commission under this section. Not later than the 20th day after the date the electronic data match is verified, the commission shall remove from eligibility a recipient who is determined to be ineligible for a public assistance program.
(f) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1083, Sec. 25(59), eff. June 17, 2011.

Text of section effective until April 01, 2025