By Junell H.B. No. 2778 75R8474 GCH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to directing payment, after approval, of certain 1-3 miscellaneous claims and judgments against the state out of funds 1-4 designated by this Act; making appropriations. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. The following sums of money are appropriated out 1-7 of the General Revenue Fund No. 001 for payment of itemized claims 1-8 and judgments plus interest, if any, against the State of Texas: 1-9 To pay Joal Cannon Sheridan for unpaid attorney's fees for 1-10 child protective services $1,407.50 1-11 To pay Texarkana Management Company, doing business as Jones 1-12 Health Center, for unpaid charges for nursing home care for 1-13 Medicaid recipients $1,583.44 1-14 To pay Lutheran Home of West Texas for unpaid charges for 1-15 nursing home care for Medicaid recipients $264.03 1-16 To pay Beverly Enterprises of Texas, Inc., doing business as 1-17 Cannon Oaks Nursing Center, for unpaid charges for nursing home 1-18 care for Medicaid recipients $243.68 1-19 To pay Tarrant County Mental Health and Mental Retardation 1-20 Services, doing business as Crossroads Development Center, for 1-21 unpaid charges for nursing home care for Medicaid recipients 1-22 $33,597.84 1-23 SECTION 2. Money is also appropriated by this Act from the 1-24 General Revenue Fund No. 001 and other funds and accounts in the 2-1 state treasury for payment of settlements and judgments against the 2-2 State of Texas that are approved by the legislature. 2-3 SECTION 3. (a) Before any claim or judgment may be paid 2-4 from money appropriated by this Act, the claim or judgment must be 2-5 verified and substantiated by the administrator of the special fund 2-6 or account against which the claim is to be charged and be approved 2-7 by the attorney general and the comptroller. Any claim or judgment 2-8 itemized in this Act that has not been verified and substantiated 2-9 by the administrator of the special fund or account and approved by 2-10 the attorney general and the comptroller by August 31, 1998, may 2-11 not be paid from money appropriated by this Act. 2-12 (b) Each claim must contain such information as the 2-13 comptroller requires, but at a minimum must contain the specific 2-14 reason for the claim. If the claim is for a void warrant, the 2-15 claim must include a specific identification of the goods, 2-16 services, refund, or other item for which the warrant was 2-17 originally issued. In addition, it must include a certification by 2-18 the original payee or the original payee's successor, heirs, or 2-19 assigns that the debt is still outstanding. If the claim is for 2-20 unpaid goods or services, it must be accompanied by an invoice or 2-21 other acceptable documentation of the unpaid account and any other 2-22 information that may be required by the comptroller. 2-23 SECTION 4. Subject to the conditions and restrictions in 2-24 this Act and provisions stated in the judgments, the comptroller is 2-25 authorized and directed to issue one or more warrants on the state 2-26 treasury, as soon as possible following the effective date of this 2-27 Act, in the favor of each of the individuals, firms, or 3-1 corporations named in this Act, in an amount not to exceed the 3-2 amount set opposite their respective names and shall mail or 3-3 deliver to each of the individuals, firms, or corporations one or 3-4 more warrants in payment of all claims included in this Act. 3-5 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 3-6 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the 3-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.