1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid
 1-3     recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Subsection (v) to read as follows:
 1-7           (v)  The department is authorized to increase the personal
 1-8     needs allowance above the minimum of $30 a month, subject to the
 1-9     availability of funds, for a resident of a convalescent or nursing
1-10     home or related institution licensed under Chapter 242, Health and
1-11     Safety Code, personal care facility, ICF-MR facility, or other
1-12     similar long-term care facility who receives medical assistance.
1-13     The department may send the personal needs allowance directly to a
1-14     resident who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (42 U.S.C.
1-15     Section 1381 et seq.).  This subsection does not apply to a
1-16     resident who is participating in a medical assistance waiver
1-17     program administered by the department.
1-18           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-19     applies only to a personal needs allowance paid on or after that
1-20     date.
1-21           (b)  The Health and Human Services Commission or Texas
1-22     Department of Human Services is required to implement this Act only
1-23     if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that
1-24     purpose.  If the legislature does not appropriate money
 2-1     specifically for that purpose, the commission or department may,
 2-2     but is not required to, implement this Act using other
 2-3     appropriations available for the purpose.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 143 was passed by the House on May 6,
         1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in Senate
         amendments to H.B. No. 143 on May 30, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 143 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 25, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor