By Wohlgemuth H.B. No. 1500 75R3369 SKB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to eligibility for indigent health care. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 61.008, Health and Safety Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-6 (c) The commissioners court of a county may require an 1-7 applicant who is at least 18 years of age to be a citizen of the 1-8 United States or a noncitizen lawfully present in the United States 1-9 to receive health care assistance under this chapter, unless the 1-10 applicant needs emergency medical services. 1-11 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 1-12 applies only to an application for indigent health care that is 1-13 filed on or after that date. 1-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.