1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to assistance funds for mandatory health care services
 1-3     provided in certain counties.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 61.037(e), Health and Safety Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  A county that provides mandatory health care services to
 1-8     its eligible residents through a hospital established by a board of
 1-9     managers jointly appointed by a county and a municipality under
1-10     Section 265.011 is eligible for state assistance if:
1-11                 (1)  the county spends in a state fiscal year at least
1-12     10 percent of the county general revenue levy for the year to
1-13     provide mandatory health care services to its eligible county
1-14     residents who qualify for assistance under Section 61.052 [61.006];
1-15     and
1-16                 (2)  the county complies with the requirements of this
1-17     subchapter.
1-18           SECTION 2.  Section 61.038(a), Health and Safety Code, is
1-19     amended to read as follows:
1-20           (a)  If the department determines that a county is eligible
1-21     for assistance, the department shall distribute funds appropriated
1-22     to the department from the indigent health care assistance fund or
1-23     any other available fund to the county to assist the county in
1-24     providing mandatory health care services to its eligible county
 2-1     residents who qualify for assistance as described by Section 61.037
 2-2     [under Section 61.006].
 2-3           SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
 2-4     to state assistance under Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code, as
 2-5     amended by this Act, for mandatory health care services that are
 2-6     delivered on or after January 1, 2000.  State assistance for
 2-7     mandatory health care services that are delivered before January 1,
 2-8     2000, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before that
 2-9     date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
2-10           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-15     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-16     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2866 was passed by the House on April
         16, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 132, Nays 4, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2866 was passed by the Senate on May
         13, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor