HBA-MPM H.B. 826 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 826 By: Gray Public Health 3/5/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Nearly 600,000 low-income children in Texas are eligible for health benefits under the Medicaid program, yet remain unenrolled. The Texas Medicaid program requires families to meet a restrictive "assets test" that disqualifies families with more than $2,000 in assets, excluding a home and one car. The value of a second car that is appraised at more than $4,650 is counted against the family's assets limit. This means that families with two working parents sometimes have to choose between health care for their children and having a second car to drive to work. House Bill 826 eliminates the assets test when determining Medicaid eligibility for children under 19. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 826 amends the Human Resources Code to prohibit the Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the medical assistance program to the extent allowed by federal law from considering the assets and resources of a person younger than 19 years old or those of the person's parents or caretaker in determining the person's eligibility to receive medical assistance. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.