By Talton                                              H.B. No. 909
       74R1649 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the level of assistance granted to certain welfare
    1-3  recipients.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 22, Human Resources Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Section 22.0021 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 22.0021.  MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE BENEFITS.  Notwithstanding
    1-8  any other provision of law, a state agency that administers
    1-9  financial assistance under Chapter 31 or medical assistance under
   1-10  the state Medicaid program may not provide assistance that exceeds
   1-11  the minimum level required by federal law for state participation
   1-12  in those programs.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   1-14  applies to the level of assistance provided after a determination
   1-15  of eligibility made by a state agency that administers financial
   1-16  assistance under Chapter 31,  Human Resources Code, or medical
   1-17  assistance under the state Medicaid program on or after that date.
   1-18        (b)  A person who is receiving financial assistance under
   1-19  Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or medical assistance under the
   1-20  state Medicaid program on September 1, 1995, that exceeds the
   1-21  minimum level required by federal law is entitled to continue to
   1-22  receive that assistance  until January 1, 1996.
   1-23        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-24  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-1  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-2  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-3  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.