Texas Utilities Code - Section 56.153. Vouchers
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§ 56.153. VOUCHERS. (a) The Texas Commission for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall determine a reasonable price for a
basic specialized telecommunications device that permits, or basic
specialized services that permit, telephone network access and
distribute to each eligible applicant a voucher that guarantees
payment of that amount to a distributor of new specialized
telecommunications devices described by Section 56.151 or to a
provider of services described by that section. The Texas
Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing may issue a voucher for
a service only if the service is less expensive than a device
eligible for a voucher under the program to meet the same need.
(b) A voucher must have the value printed on its face. The
individual exchanging a voucher for the purchase of a specialized
telecommunications device or service is responsible for payment of
the difference between the voucher's value and the price of the
device or service.
(c) The commission and the Texas Commission for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing by rule shall provide that a distributor of devices
or a provider of services will receive not more than the full price
of the device or service if the recipient of a voucher exchanges the
voucher for a device or service that the distributor or provider
sells for less than the voucher's value.
(d) An individual who has exchanged a voucher for a
specialized telecommunications device is not eligible to receive
another voucher before the fifth anniversary of the date the
individual exchanged the previously issued voucher unless, before
that date, the recipient develops a need for a different type of
telecommunications device or service under the program because the
recipient's disability changes or the recipient acquires another
disability.
(e) Except as provided by rules adopted under this
subsection, an individual is not eligible for a voucher if the Texas
Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has issued a voucher for
a device or service to another individual with the same type of
disability in the individual's household. The Texas Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by rule may provide for financially
independent individuals who reside in a congregate setting to be
eligible for a voucher regardless of whether another individual
living in that setting has received a voucher.
(f) The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
shall determine eligibility of each person who files an application
for a voucher and issue each eligible applicant an appropriate
voucher.
(g) The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
shall maintain a record regarding each individual who receives a
voucher under the program.
(h) The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
shall deposit money collected under the program to the credit of the
universal service fund.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 18.08(e), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1553, § 7, eff. Sept. 1,
1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 424, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Section: 56.109 56.110 56.111 56.112 56.113 56.151 56.152 56.153 56.154 56.155 56.156 56.201 56.202 56.203 56.204
Last modified: August 10, 2007
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