Sec. 531.0998. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE REPORTING INFORMATION SYSTEM; MAXIMIZATION OF BENEFITS. (a) In this section, "system" means the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) operated by the Administration for Children and Families of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(b) The commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans' Land Board, and the Department of Aging and Disability Services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for the purposes of:

(1) coordinating and collecting information about the use and analysis among state agencies of data received from the system; and

(2) developing new strategies for state agencies to use system data in ways that:

(A) generate fiscal savings for the state; and

(B) maximize the availability of and access to benefits for veterans.

(c) The commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, and the Department of Aging and Disability Services shall coordinate to assist veterans in maximizing the benefits available to each veteran by using the system.

(d) The commission and the Texas Veterans Commission together may determine the geographic scope of the efforts described by Subsection (c).

(e) Not later than October 1 of each year, the commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans' Land Board, and the Department of Aging and Disability Services collectively shall submit to the legislature, the governor, and the Legislative Budget Board a report describing:

(1) interagency progress in identifying and obtaining United States Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for veterans receiving Medicaid and other public benefit programs;

(2) the number of veterans benefits claims awarded, the total dollar amount of veterans benefits claims awarded, and the costs to the state that were avoided as a result of state agencies' use of the system;

(3) efforts to expand the use of the system and improve the effectiveness of shifting veterans from Medicaid and other public benefits to United States Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, including any barriers and how state agencies have addressed those barriers; and

(4) the extent to which the Texas Veterans Commission has targeted specific populations of veterans, including populations in rural counties and in specific age and service-connected disability categories, in order to maximize benefits for veterans and savings to the state.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1016, Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 767 (H.B. 1784), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1016 (H.B. 2562), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1016 (H.B. 2562), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 2.128, eff. April 2, 2015.

See note following this section.