By Zbranek H.B. No. 606 75R2123 KKA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to access to nursing facilities in rural counties. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 1-5 is amended by adding Section 32.0246 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 32.0246. NURSING HOME BEDS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. 1-7 (a) At the request of the commissioners court of a county in which 1-8 not more than one nursing facility is certified to participate in 1-9 the state Medicaid program, the department shall contract for 1-10 nursing home beds under the state Medicaid program with an 1-11 additional nursing facility in the county without regard to the 1-12 occupancy rate of available Medicaid beds. 1-13 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department is not 1-14 required to contract with a nursing facility that does not meet 1-15 requirements for participation in the state Medicaid program. 1-16 SECTION 2. If, before implementing Section 32.0246, Human 1-17 Resources Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of 1-18 Human Services determines that a waiver or authorization from a 1-19 federal agency is necessary for implementation, the department 1-20 shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay 1-21 implementing that section until the waiver or authorization is 1-22 granted. 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, 2-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-5 passage, and it is so enacted.