By Naishtat H.B. No. 1944 75R3733 KEL-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the reimbursement of service providers by area agencies 1-3 on aging. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 101.0255, Human Resources Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows: 1-7 (c) The department shall require an area agency on aging to 1-8 reimburse a service provider, under a joint contract under 1-9 Subsection (b), for each service at a rate that is equal to or 1-10 below the rate set by the Texas Department of Human Services for a 1-11 comparable service in the same region. 1-12 (d) The department shall require an area agency on aging to 1-13 reimburse a service provider, under a contract other than a joint 1-14 contract under Subsection (b), for each service at a rate that is 1-15 equal to or below the rate set by other purchasers for a comparable 1-16 service in the same region or by the Texas Department of Human 1-17 Services for a comparable service in a neighboring region. 1-18 (e) The department shall adjust the unit cost calculations 1-19 of appropriate services to determine whether the services are 1-20 comparable. 1-21 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies 1-22 only to a contract entered into or renewed on or after the 1-23 effective date of this Act. 1-24 (b) A contract entered into or renewed before the effective 2-1 date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the contract 2-2 was entered into or renewed, and the former law is continued in 2-3 effect for that purpose. 2-4 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-5 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.