1-1 By: Luna, Madla S.B. No. 612 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 16, 1995; February 20, 1995, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 1-4 Services; April 18, 1995, reported adversely, with favorable 1-5 Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; 1-6 April 18, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 612 By: Madla 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to certain nursing home services funded through the state 1-11 Medicaid program. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 1-14 is amended by adding Section 32.0245 to read as follows: 1-15 Sec. 32.0245. NURSING HOME BEDS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 1-16 The department may waive a restriction imposed by state law on the 1-17 authority to contract under the state Medicaid program for nursing 1-18 home beds based on the percentage of beds that are occupied in a 1-19 geographical area if the department finds, in accordance with board 1-20 rule, that waiving the restriction would serve an underserved 1-21 community. 1-22 SECTION 2. If, before implementing Section 32.0245, Human 1-23 Resources Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Human 1-24 Services determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal 1-25 agency is necessary for implementation, the department shall 1-26 request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that 1-27 section until the waiver or authorization is granted. 1-28 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-29 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-30 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-31 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-32 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-33 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-34 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-35 * * * * *