SB179 - Relating to a public outreach and education campaign for mixed-status families regarding eligibility for Medicaid and the child health plan program.

  89R2984 MM-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 179       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a public outreach and education campaign for   mixed-status families regarding eligibility for Medicaid and the   child health plan program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 545, Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 545.0059 to   read as follows:           Sec.   545.0059.   PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN FOR MIXED-STATUS   FAMILIES ON MEDICAID AND CHILD HEALTH PLAN PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.   (a) In this section, "mixed-status family" means a family in which   one or more members is not a citizen or national of the United   States and one or more members is a citizen or national of the   United States.           (b)     The commission shall conduct a public outreach and   education campaign designed to educate and inform mixed-status   families about eligibility requirements under Medicaid and the   child health plan program. The campaign must:                 (1)     clearly explain the programs' eligibility   requirements relating to residency and citizenship status,   including the programs' eligibility requirements for citizens,   qualified aliens, and lawful permanent residents;                 (2)     inform individuals that a child's receipt of   benefits under a program will not affect the immigration status of   the child's parent;                 (3)     be tailored to the population targeted by the   campaign, including by providing information in English and Spanish   or another language spoken by the majority of the targeted   population; and                 (4)     be   disseminated through methods designed to reach   the targeted population, including by:                       (A)     distributing information and providing   presentations at health fairs; and                       (B)     working with relevant organizations or   groups, including community clinics.           (c)     To support the campaign conducted under this section,   the commission shall develop informational material about Medicaid   and child health plan program eligibility criteria relating to   residency and citizenship status that is:                 (1)  up-to-date;                 (2)  clear and easy to understand; and                 (3)     made available in English and Spanish or another   language spoken by the majority of a targeted population.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.