89R2215 MM-D
 
  By: Alvarado, et al. S.B. No. 255
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to certain
  individuals under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable
  Care Act.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 32.02473 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.02473.  EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
  UNDER PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.  (a)  
  Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide medical
  assistance to all individuals who apply for that assistance and for
  whom federal matching money is available under the Patient
  Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148), as
  amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
  (Pub. L. No. 111-152), to provide that assistance.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules regarding
  the provision of medical assistance as required by this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 32.02473, Human Resources Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to an initial determination or
  recertification of eligibility of an individual for medical
  assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, made on or after
  the date the section is implemented, regardless of the date the
  individual applied for that assistance.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall take all necessary actions to expand
  eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human
  Resources Code, in accordance with Section 32.02473, Human
  Resources Code, as added by this Act, including notifying
  appropriate federal agencies of that expanded eligibility.
         SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that any other waiver or authorization
  from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that
  provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the
  waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision
  until the waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.