BILL ANALYSIS


                                                     C.S.S.B. 612
                                                         By: Luna
                                        Health and Human Services
                                                          4-13-95
                                   Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND

The Edgewood community of San Antonio has a rapidly aging
population of approximately 40,000 residents over age 65.  The
residents of the community support construction of a nursing home
in order to keep elderly relatives closer to home instead of in
existing homes which are hard to reach by public transportation. 
In addition, the nursing home would stimulate economic development
by providing new jobs and serving as a tax source for the local
school district.

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 612 authorizes the Texas Department of Human
Services to waive specific restrictions relating to nursing home
beds in order to serve an underserved minority community.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 32B, Human Resources Code, by adding
Section 32.0245, as follows:

     Sec. 32.0245.  NURSING HOME BEDS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 
     Authorizes the Texas Department of Human Services (department)
     to waive a restriction imposed by state law on the authority
     to contract under the state Medicaid program for nursing home
     beds based on the percentage of beds occupied in a
     geographical area, if the department finds that waiving the
     restriction would serve an underserved community.
     
     SECTION 2.     Requires the department, if it determines that a waiver
or authorization is necessary for implementation, to request the
waiver or authorization, and authorizes the department to delay
implementing Section 32.0245 until the waiver is granted.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.