(April 3, 2007)--More Texas children of the working poor would have access to the state's low-cost health insurance program under a measure the House debated Tuesday.

The proposal would dismantle several changes that the Legislature made in 2003, when the state faced a $10 billion budget shortfall and cut spending on state services like the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The proposal by Rep. Sylvester Turner, R-Houston, would let parents re-enroll in the CHIP plan every year instead of every six months.

The proposal also would eliminate a 90-day waiting period unless the child had recently been covered in another insurance plan.

Conservatives have voiced concern with the 12-month enrollment period in Turner's bill.

They say making families re-enroll twice a year ensures only eligible children receive the benefits.

Officials estimate more than 100,000 children would be added to the coverage under Turner's proposal.

Approximately 325,400 children are now enrolled in CHIP, about 182,000 fewer than in 2003 when the changes were made.

Advocates for poor families blamed the cuts for the enrollment decline, saying administrative roadblocks kept eligible children from receiving coverage.

One in five Texas children lack health insurance, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a New Jersey-based health care philanthropy. That's the highest rate in the nation.

More than half of the 1.4 million uninsured children in Texas are eligible for but not enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid, according to the Children's Defense Fund of Texas.

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Central Texas State Senators

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque*, Coryell*, Ellis, Falls*, Hill*, Hood, Johnson, McLennan*, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
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Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell*, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton*, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas*, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Mills*, San Saba*, Taylor Counties)
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Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone*, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon*, Limestone*, Madison, Milam*, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
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Central Texas State Representatives

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone*, Limestone*, Navarro Counties)
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State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill*, Ellis Counties)
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State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam*, Williamson-part, Counties)
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State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch*, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba*, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
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Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part*, Burnet, Lampasas* Counties)
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Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
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Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
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Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls*, Leon*, McLennan-part*, Madison, Robertson Counties)
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Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque*, Johnson Counties)
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Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell*, Erath, Hamilton*, Mills*, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Miller House Web Site

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