By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1585 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the use of competitive bidding for certain functions 1-2 and components of the Medicaid vendor drug program. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 1-5 is amended by adding Section 32.0461 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 32.0461. VENDOR DRUG PROGRAM; COMPETITIVE BIDDING. 1-7 (a) In consultation and coordination with the State Council on 1-8 Competitive Government, the Texas Department of Health shall seek 1-9 competitive bids for the claims processing function of the vendor 1-10 drug program. The department and the Texas Department of Human 1-11 Services may submit a bid proposal under this section in the same 1-12 manner as a private entity. 1-13 (b) The Texas Department of Health shall require any person 1-14 seeking to contract for services under this section to comply with 1-15 competitive bidding procedures adopted by that department. 1-16 (c) The Texas Department of Health may award a contract 1-17 under this section to another person only if the department and the 1-18 State Council on Competitive Government determine that the 1-19 provision of services under that contract would be more 1-20 cost-effective and the time to process claims under the contract 1-21 would be the same as or faster than having employees of the 1-22 department continue to process claims. 1-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.