SRC-JJJ S.B. 11 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 11
By: Zaffirini
Human Services
6/23/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law establishes that a person commits a felony if the
person knowingly provided improper  information relating to payments to the
state Medicaid program.  This bill will change the standard of proof for
Medicaid fraud from actual knowledge to deliberate ignorance or reckless
disregard. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, C.S.S.B. 11 establishes provisions regarding the mental state
applicable to certain violations under the state Medicaid program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 32.039(a), Human Resources Code, by adding
Subdivision (4), to establish that a person "should know" or "should have
known" information to be false if the person acts in deliberate ignorance
or reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information, and proof
of the person's specific intent to defraud is not required. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 32.039(b) and (d), Human Resources Code, to
establish that a person commits a violation if the person presents a claim
to the Department of Human Services that the person knows or should know to
be false.  Makes conforming changes.  

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.