1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the administration and operation of the state Medicaid
1-3 program.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code,
1-6 is amended by adding Section 12.0123 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 12.0123. EXTERNAL AUDITS OF CERTAIN MEDICAID
1-8 CONTRACTORS. (a) In this section, "Medicaid contractor" means an
1-9 entity that:
1-10 (1) is not a health and human services agency as
1-11 defined by Section 531.001, Government Code; and
1-12 (2) under contract with or otherwise on behalf of the
1-13 department, performs one or more administrative services in
1-14 relation to the department's operation of a part of the state
1-15 Medicaid program, such as claims processing, utilization review,
1-16 client enrollment, provider enrollment, quality monitoring, or
1-17 payment of claims.
1-18 (b) The department shall contract with an independent
1-19 auditor to perform annual independent external financial and
1-20 performance audits of any Medicaid contractor used by the
1-21 department in the department's operation of a part of the state
1-22 Medicaid program.
1-23 (c) The department shall ensure that audit procedures
1-24 related to financial audits and performance audits are used
2-1 consistently in audits under this section.
2-2 (d) An audit required by this section must be completed
2-3 before the end of the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal
2-4 year for which the audit is performed.
2-5 SECTION 2. Section 533.003, Government Code, is amended to
2-6 read as follows:
2-7 Sec. 533.003. CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING CONTRACTS. In
2-8 awarding contracts to managed care organizations, the commission
2-9 shall:
2-10 (1) give preference to organizations that have
2-11 significant participation in the organization's provider network
2-12 from each health care provider in the region who has traditionally
2-13 provided care to Medicaid and charity care patients;
2-14 (2) give extra consideration to organizations that
2-15 agree to assure continuity of care for at least three months beyond
2-16 the period of Medicaid eligibility for recipients; [and]
2-17 (3) consider the need to use different managed care
2-18 plans to meet the needs of different populations; and
2-19 (4) consider the ability of organizations to process
2-20 Medicaid claims electronically.
2-21 SECTION 3. Section 533.004, Government Code, is amended by
2-22 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
2-23 follows:
2-24 (a) In providing health care services through Medicaid
2-25 managed care to recipients in a health care service region, the
2-26 commission shall contract with a [at least one] managed care
2-27 organization in that region that is licensed under the Texas Health
3-1 Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance
3-2 Code) to provide health care in that region and that is:
3-3 (1) wholly owned and operated by a hospital district
3-4 in that region;
3-5 (2) created by a nonprofit corporation that:
3-6 (A) has a contract, agreement, or other
3-7 arrangement with a hospital district in that region or with a
3-8 municipality in that region that owns a hospital licensed under
3-9 Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, and has an obligation to
3-10 provide health care to indigent patients; and
3-11 (B) under the contract, agreement, or other
3-12 arrangement, assumes the obligation to provide health care to
3-13 indigent patients and leases, manages, or operates a hospital
3-14 facility owned by the hospital district or municipality; or
3-15 (3) created by a nonprofit corporation that has a
3-16 contract, agreement, or other arrangement with a hospital district
3-17 in that region under which the nonprofit corporation acts as an
3-18 agent of the district and assumes the district's obligation to
3-19 arrange for services under the Medicaid expansion for children as
3-20 authorized by Chapter 444, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular
3-21 Session, 1995.
3-22 (e) In providing health care services through Medicaid
3-23 managed care to recipients in a health care service region, with
3-24 the exception of the Harris service area for the STAR Medicaid
3-25 managed care program, as defined by the commission as of September
3-26 1, 1999, the commission shall also contract with a managed care
3-27 organization in that region that holds a certificate of authority
4-1 as a health maintenance organization under Section 5, Texas Health
4-2 Maintenance Organization Act (Article 20A.05, Vernon's Texas
4-3 Insurance Code), and that:
4-4 (1) is certified under Section 5.01(a), Medical
4-5 Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes);
4-6 (2) is created by The University of Texas Medical
4-7 Branch at Galveston; and
4-8 (3) has obtained a certificate of authority as a
4-9 health maintenance organization to serve one or more counties in
4-10 that region from the Texas Department of Insurance before September
4-11 2, 1999.
4-12 SECTION 4. Section 533.005, Government Code, is amended to
4-13 read as follows:
4-14 Sec. 533.005. REQUIRED CONTRACT PROVISIONS. A contract
4-15 between a managed care organization and the commission for the
4-16 organization to provide health care services to recipients must
4-17 contain:
4-18 (1) procedures to ensure accountability to the state
4-19 for the provision of health care services, including procedures for
4-20 financial reporting, quality assurance, utilization review, and
4-21 assurance of contract and subcontract compliance;
4-22 (2) capitation and provider payment rates that ensure
4-23 the cost-effective provision of quality health care;
4-24 (3) a requirement that the managed care organization
4-25 provide ready access to a person who assists recipients in
4-26 resolving issues relating to enrollment, plan administration,
4-27 education and training, access to services, and grievance
5-1 procedures;
5-2 (4) a requirement that the managed care organization
5-3 provide ready access to a person who assists providers in resolving
5-4 issues relating to payment, plan administration, education and
5-5 training, and grievance procedures;
5-6 (5) a requirement that the managed care organization
5-7 provide information and referral about the availability of
5-8 educational, social, and other community services that could
5-9 benefit a recipient;
5-10 (6) procedures for recipient outreach and education;
5-11 (7) a requirement that the managed care organization
5-12 make payment to a physician or provider for health care services
5-13 rendered to a recipient under a managed care plan not later than
5-14 the 45th day after the date a claim for payment is received with
5-15 documentation reasonably necessary for the managed care
5-16 organization to process the claim, or within a period, not to
5-17 exceed 60 days, specified by a written agreement between the
5-18 physician or provider and the managed care organization;
5-19 (8) a requirement that the commission, on the date of
5-20 a recipient's enrollment in a managed care plan issued by the
5-21 managed care organization, inform the organization of the
5-22 recipient's Medicaid certification [recertification] date; and
5-23 (9) a requirement that the managed care organization
5-24 comply with Section 533.006 as a condition of contract retention
5-25 and renewal.
5-26 SECTION 5. Section 533.006(a), Government Code, is amended
5-27 to read as follows:
6-1 (a) The commission shall require that each managed care
6-2 organization that contracts with the commission to provide health
6-3 care services to recipients in a region:
6-4 (1) seek participation in the organization's provider
6-5 network from:
6-6 (A) each health care provider in the region who
6-7 has traditionally provided care to Medicaid recipients; [and]
6-8 (B) each hospital in the region that has been
6-9 designated as a disproportionate share hospital under the state
6-10 Medicaid program; and
6-11 (C) each specialized pediatric laboratory in the
6-12 region, including those laboratories located in children's
6-13 hospitals; and
6-14 (2) include in its provider network for not less than
6-15 three years:
6-16 (A) each health care provider in the region who:
6-17 (i) previously provided care to Medicaid
6-18 and charity care recipients at a significant level as prescribed by
6-19 the commission;
6-20 (ii) agrees to accept the prevailing
6-21 provider contract rate of the managed care organization; and
6-22 (iii) has the credentials required by the
6-23 managed care organization, provided that lack of board
6-24 certification or accreditation by the Joint Commission on
6-25 Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations may not be the sole
6-26 ground for exclusion from the provider network;
6-27 (B) each accredited primary care residency
7-1 program in the region; and
7-2 (C) each disproportionate share hospital
7-3 designated by the commission as a statewide significant traditional
7-4 provider.
7-5 SECTION 6. Section 533.007(e), Government Code, is amended
7-6 to read as follows:
7-7 (e) The commission shall conduct a compliance and readiness
7-8 review of each managed care organization that contracts with the
7-9 commission not later than the 15th day before the date on which the
7-10 commission plans to begin the enrollment process in a region and
7-11 again not later than the 15th day before the date on which the
7-12 commission plans to begin to provide health care services to
7-13 recipients in that region through managed care. The review must
7-14 include an on-site inspection and tests of service authorization
7-15 and claims payment systems, including the ability of the managed
7-16 care organization to process claims electronically, complaint
7-17 processing systems, and any other process or system required by the
7-18 contract.
7-19 SECTION 7. Section 533.0075, Government Code, is amended to
7-20 read as follows:
7-21 Sec. 533.0075. RECIPIENT ENROLLMENT. The commission shall:
7-22 (1) encourage recipients to choose appropriate managed
7-23 care plans and primary health care providers by:
7-24 (A) providing initial information to recipients
7-25 and providers in a region about the need for recipients to choose
7-26 plans and providers not later than the 90th day before the date on
7-27 which the commission plans to begin to provide health care services
8-1 to recipients in that region through managed care;
8-2 (B) providing follow-up information before
8-3 assignment of plans and providers and after assignment, if
8-4 necessary, to recipients who delay in choosing plans and providers;
8-5 and
8-6 (C) allowing plans and providers to provide
8-7 information to recipients or engage in marketing activities under
8-8 marketing guidelines established by the commission under Section
8-9 533.008 after the commission approves the information or
8-10 activities;
8-11 (2) consider the following factors in assigning
8-12 managed care plans and primary health care providers to recipients
8-13 who fail to choose plans and providers:
8-14 (A) the importance of maintaining existing
8-15 provider-patient and physician-patient relationships, including
8-16 relationships with specialists, public health clinics, and
8-17 community health centers;
8-18 (B) to the extent possible, the need to assign
8-19 family members to the same providers and plans; and
8-20 (C) geographic convenience of plans and
8-21 providers for recipients; [and]
8-22 (3) retain responsibility for enrollment and
8-23 disenrollment of recipients in managed care plans, except that the
8-24 commission may delegate the responsibility to an independent
8-25 contractor who receives no form of payment from, and has no
8-26 financial ties to, any managed care organization;
8-27 (4) develop and implement an expedited process for
9-1 determining eligibility for and enrolling pregnant women and
9-2 newborn infants in managed care plans;
9-3 (5) ensure immediate access to prenatal services and
9-4 newborn care for pregnant women and newborn infants enrolled in
9-5 managed care plans, including ensuring that a pregnant woman may
9-6 obtain an appointment with an obstetrical care provider for an
9-7 initial maternity evaluation not later than the 30th day after the
9-8 date the woman applies for Medicaid; and
9-9 (6) temporarily assign Medicaid-eligible newborn
9-10 infants to the traditional fee-for-service component of the state
9-11 Medicaid program for a period not to exceed the earlier of:
9-12 (A) 60 days; or
9-13 (B) the date on which the Texas Department of
9-14 Human Services has completed the newborn's Medicaid eligibility
9-15 determination, including assignment of the newborn's Medicaid
9-16 eligibility number.
9-17 SECTION 8. Subchapter A, Chapter 533, Government Code, is
9-18 amended by adding Sections 533.012-533.015 to read as follows:
9-19 Sec. 533.012. MORATORIUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN PILOT
9-20 PROGRAMS; REVIEW; REPORT. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the
9-21 commission may not implement Medicaid managed care pilot programs,
9-22 Medicaid behavioral health pilot programs, or Medicaid Star + Plus
9-23 pilot programs in a region for which the commission has not:
9-24 (1) received a bid from a managed care organization to
9-25 provide health care services to recipients in the region through a
9-26 managed care plan; or
9-27 (2) entered into a contract with a managed care
10-1 organization to provide health care services to recipients in the
10-2 region through a managed care plan.
10-3 (b) The commission shall:
10-4 (1) review any outstanding administrative and
10-5 financial issues with respect to Medicaid managed care pilot
10-6 programs, Medicaid behavioral health pilot programs, and Medicaid
10-7 Star + Plus pilot programs implemented in health care service
10-8 regions;
10-9 (2) review the impact of the Medicaid managed care
10-10 delivery system, including managed care organizations, prepaid
10-11 health plans, and primary care case management, on:
10-12 (A) physical access and program-related access
10-13 to appropriate services by recipients, including recipients who
10-14 have special health care needs;
10-15 (B) quality of health care delivery and patient
10-16 outcomes;
10-17 (C) utilization patterns of recipients;
10-18 (D) statewide Medicaid costs;
10-19 (E) coordination of care and care coordination
10-20 in Medicaid Star + Plus pilot programs;
10-21 (F) the level of administrative complexity for
10-22 providers, recipients, and managed care organizations;
10-23 (G) public hospitals, medical schools, and other
10-24 traditional providers of indigent health care; and
10-25 (H) competition in the marketplace and network
10-26 retention; and
10-27 (3) evaluate the feasibility of developing a separate
11-1 reimbursement methodology for public hospitals under a Medicaid
11-2 managed care delivery system.
11-3 (c) In performing its duties and functions under Subsection
11-4 (b), the commission shall seek input from the state Medicaid
11-5 managed care advisory committee created under Subchapter C. The
11-6 commission may coordinate the review required under Subsection (b)
11-7 with any other study or review the commission is required to
11-8 complete.
11-9 (d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commission may
11-10 implement Medicaid managed care pilot programs, Medicaid behavioral
11-11 health pilot programs, and Medicaid Star + Plus pilot programs in a
11-12 region described by that subsection if the commission finds that:
11-13 (1) outstanding administrative and financial issues
11-14 with respect to the implementation of those programs in health care
11-15 service regions have been resolved; and
11-16 (2) implementation of those programs in a region
11-17 described by Subsection (a) would benefit both recipients and
11-18 providers.
11-19 (e) Not later than November 1, 2000, the commission shall
11-20 submit a report to the governor and the legislature that:
11-21 (1) states whether the outstanding administrative and
11-22 financial issues with respect to the pilot programs described by
11-23 Subsection (b)(1) have been sufficiently resolved;
11-24 (2) summarizes the findings of the review conducted
11-25 under Subsection (b);
11-26 (3) recommends which elements of the Medicaid managed
11-27 care delivery system should be applied to the traditional
12-1 fee-for-service component of the state Medicaid program to achieve
12-2 the goals specified in Section 533.002(1); and
12-3 (4) recommends whether Medicaid managed care pilot
12-4 programs, Medicaid behavioral health pilot programs, or Medicaid
12-5 Star + Plus pilot programs should be implemented in health care
12-6 service regions described by Subsection (a).
12-7 (f) To the extent practicable, this section may not be
12-8 construed to affect the duty of the commission to plan the
12-9 continued expansion of Medicaid managed care pilot programs,
12-10 Medicaid behavioral health pilot programs, and Medicaid Star + Plus
12-11 pilot programs in health care service regions described by
12-12 Subsection (a) after July 1, 2001.
12-13 (g) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may not
12-14 use federal medical assistance funds to implement any long-term
12-15 care integrated network pilot studies.
12-16 (h) This section expires July 1, 2001.
12-17 Sec. 533.013. PREMIUM PAYMENT RATE DETERMINATION; REVIEW AND
12-18 COMMENT. (a) In determining premium payment rates paid to a
12-19 managed care organization under a managed care plan, the commission
12-20 shall consider:
12-21 (1) the regional variation in costs of health care
12-22 services;
12-23 (2) the range and type of health care services to be
12-24 covered by premium payment rates;
12-25 (3) the number of managed care plans in a region;
12-26 (4) the current and projected number of recipients in
12-27 each region, including the current and projected number for each
13-1 category of recipient;
13-2 (5) the ability of the managed care plan to meet costs
13-3 of operation under the proposed premium payment rates;
13-4 (6) the applicable requirements of the federal
13-5 Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and implementing regulations that
13-6 require adequacy of premium payments to managed care organizations
13-7 participating in the state Medicaid program;
13-8 (7) the adequacy of the management fee paid for
13-9 assisting enrollees of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (42
13-10 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.) who are voluntarily enrolled in the
13-11 managed care plan;
13-12 (8) the impact of reducing premium payment rates for
13-13 the category of recipients who are pregnant; and
13-14 (9) the ability of the managed care plan to pay under
13-15 the proposed premium payment rates inpatient and outpatient
13-16 hospital provider payment rates that are comparable to the
13-17 inpatient and outpatient hospital provider payment rates paid by
13-18 the commission under a primary care case management model or a
13-19 partially capitated model.
13-20 (b) In determining the maximum premium payment rates paid to
13-21 a managed care organization that is licensed under the Texas Health
13-22 Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance
13-23 Code), the commission shall consider and adjust for the regional
13-24 variation in costs of services under the traditional
13-25 fee-for-service component of the state Medicaid program,
13-26 utilization patterns, and other factors that influence the
13-27 potential for cost savings. For a service area with a service area
14-1 factor of .93 or less, or another appropriate service area factor,
14-2 as determined by the commission, the commission may not discount
14-3 premium payment rates in an amount that is more than the amount
14-4 necessary to meet federal budget neutrality requirements for
14-5 projected fee-for-service costs unless:
14-6 (1) a historical review of managed care financial
14-7 results among managed care organizations in the service area served
14-8 by the organization demonstrates that additional savings are
14-9 warranted;
14-10 (2) a review of Medicaid fee-for-service delivery in
14-11 the service area served by the organization has historically shown
14-12 a significant overutilization by recipients of certain services
14-13 covered by the premium payment rates in comparison to utilization
14-14 patterns throughout the rest of the state; or
14-15 (3) a review of Medicaid fee-for-service delivery in
14-16 the service area served by the organization has historically shown
14-17 an above-market cost for services for which there is substantial
14-18 evidence that Medicaid managed care delivery will reduce the cost
14-19 of those services.
14-20 (c) The premium payment rates paid to a managed care
14-21 organization that is licensed under the Texas Health Maintenance
14-22 Organization Act (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code) shall
14-23 be established by a competitive bid process but may not exceed the
14-24 maximum premium payment rates established by the commission under
14-25 Subsection (b).
14-26 (d) Subsection (b) applies only to a managed care
14-27 organization with respect to Medicaid managed care pilot programs,
15-1 Medicaid behavioral health pilot programs, and Medicaid Star + Plus
15-2 pilot programs implemented in a health care service region after
15-3 June 1, 1999.
15-4 Sec. 533.014. PROFIT SHARING. (a) The commission shall
15-5 adopt rules regarding the sharing of profits earned by a managed
15-6 care organization through a managed care plan providing health care
15-7 services under a contract with the commission under this chapter.
15-8 (b) Any amount received by the state under this section
15-9 shall be deposited in the general revenue fund for the purpose of
15-10 funding the state Medicaid program.
15-11 Sec. 533.015. COORDINATION OF EXTERNAL OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES.
15-12 To the extent possible, the commission shall coordinate all
15-13 external oversight activities to minimize duplication of oversight
15-14 of managed care plans under the state Medicaid program and
15-15 disruption of operations under those plans.
15-16 SECTION 9. Chapter 533, Government Code, is amended by
15-17 adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
15-18 SUBCHAPTER C. STATEWIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
15-19 Sec. 533.041. APPOINTMENT AND COMPOSITION. (a) The
15-20 commission shall appoint a state Medicaid managed care advisory
15-21 committee. The advisory committee consists of representatives of:
15-22 (1) hospitals;
15-23 (2) managed care organizations;
15-24 (3) primary care providers;
15-25 (4) state agencies;
15-26 (5) consumer advocates representing low-income
15-27 recipients;
16-1 (6) consumer advocates representing recipients with a
16-2 disability;
16-3 (7) parents of children who are recipients;
16-4 (8) rural providers;
16-5 (9) advocates for children with special health care
16-6 needs;
16-7 (10) pediatric health care providers, including
16-8 specialty providers;
16-9 (11) long-term care providers, including nursing home
16-10 providers;
16-11 (12) obstetrical care providers;
16-12 (13) community-based organizations serving low-income
16-13 children and their families; and
16-14 (14) community-based organizations engaged in
16-15 perinatal services and outreach.
16-16 (b) The advisory committee must include a member of each
16-17 regional Medicaid managed care advisory committee appointed by the
16-18 commission under Subchapter B.
16-19 Sec. 533.042. MEETINGS. The advisory committee shall meet
16-20 at least quarterly, shall develop procedures that provide the
16-21 public with reasonable opportunity to appear before the committtee
16-22 and speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the committee, and
16-23 is subject to Chapter 551.
16-24 Sec. 533.043. POWERS AND DUTIES. The advisory committee
16-25 shall:
16-26 (1) provide recommendations to the commission on the
16-27 statewide implementation and operation of Medicaid managed care;
17-1 (2) assist the commission with issues relevant to
17-2 Medicaid managed care to improve the policies established for and
17-3 programs operating under Medicaid managed care, including the
17-4 early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program,
17-5 provider and patient education issues, and patient eligibility
17-6 issues; and
17-7 (3) disseminate or make available to each regional
17-8 advisory committee appointed under Subchapter B information on best
17-9 practices with respect to Medicaid managed care that is obtained
17-10 from a regional advisory committee.
17-11 Sec. 533.044. OTHER LAW. Except as provided by this
17-12 subchapter, the advisory committee is subject to Chapter 2110.
17-13 SECTION 10. Section 2.07(c), Chapter 1153, Acts of the 75th
17-14 Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, is amended to read as follows:
17-15 (c) As soon as possible after development of the new
17-16 provider contract, the commission and each agency operating part of
17-17 the state Medicaid program by rule shall require each provider who
17-18 enrolled in the program before completion of the new contract to
17-19 reenroll in the program under the new contract or modify the
17-20 provider's existing contract in accordance with commission or
17-21 agency procedures as necessary to comply with the requirements of
17-22 the new contract. The commission shall study the feasibility of
17-23 authorizing providers to reenroll in the program online or through
17-24 other electronic means. On completion of the study, if the
17-25 commission determines that an online or other electronic method for
17-26 reenrollment of providers is feasible, the commission shall develop
17-27 and implement the electronic method of reenrollment for providers
18-1 not later than September 1, 2000. A provider must reenroll in the
18-2 state Medicaid program or make the necessary contract modifications
18-3 not later than March 31, 2000 [September 1, 1999], to retain
18-4 eligibility to participate in the program, unless the commission
18-5 implements under this subsection an electronic method of
18-6 reenrollment for providers, in which event a provider must reenroll
18-7 or make the contractual modifications not later than September 1,
18-8 2000. The commission by rule may extend a reenrollment deadline
18-9 prescribed by this subsection if a significant number of providers,
18-10 as determined by the commission, have not met the reenrollment
18-11 requirements by the applicable deadline.
18-12 SECTION 11. (a) Not later than January 1, 2000, the Health
18-13 and Human Services Commission shall implement the expedited process
18-14 for determining eligibility for and enrollment of certain
18-15 recipients in Medicaid managed care plans required by Section
18-16 533.0075(4), Government Code, as added by this Act.
18-17 (b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall report
18-18 quarterly to the standing committees of the senate and house of
18-19 representatives with primary jurisdiction over Medicaid managed
18-20 care regarding the status of the expedited process described by
18-21 Subsection (a) of this section. The commission shall submit
18-22 quarterly reports under this subsection until the commission
18-23 determines the process is fully implemented and functioning
18-24 successfully.
18-25 SECTION 12. If before implementing any provision of this Act
18-26 a state agency determines that a waiver or other authorization from
18-27 a federal agency is necessary for implementation, the Health and
19-1 Human Services Commission shall request the waiver or authorization
19-2 and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or
19-3 authorization is granted.
19-4 SECTION 13. The importance of this legislation and the
19-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
19-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
19-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
19-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
19-9 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
19-10 passage, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2896 was passed by the House on May
8, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 2896 on May 27, 1999, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 2896 on May 30, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 144,
Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2896 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 24, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
2896 on May 30, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor