SRC-CTC S.B. 831 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 831
By: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
5/30/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, federal funds are newly available for states to create a Ticket
to Work Buy-In Program that allows disabled individuals to work, but not
lose their Medicaid benefits.  S.B. 831 creates three pilot programs, one
rural, one urban, and one in the Texas-Mexico border region, to take
advantage of these funds.  The Department of Human Services is directed to
report the effectiveness of the pilot programs and make recommendations
about statewide expansion. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 32B, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
32.053, as follows: 

Sec. 32.053.  MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BUY-IN PILOT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
RECIPIENTS WITH DISABILITIES.  (a) Requires the  Health and Human Services
Commission or an agency operating part of the medical assistance program
(department) to develop and implement a  medical assistance buy-in pilot
program (program) in accordance with the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106170) to provide medical assistance
to certain persons.   

(b) Requires the department to operate the program in three specific
geographic areas of the state, each of which is located in a local
workforce development area for which the local development board has
received a federal work incentive grant under the Workforce Investment Act
of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.), as amended, to provide employment
services and supports to persons with disabilities.  Requires the
department to determine the pilot sites, with one site in an urban area,
one site in a rural area, and one site in the Texas-Mexico border region. 

(c) Authorizes the department, in establishing the program, to set certain
guidelines or conditions. 

(d)  Requires the department, in establishing the program, to require a
person who participates in the program to pay premiums to the extent
required by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396o(g)(2). 

(e) Requires the department, not later than December 1, 2002, to evaluate
the effectiveness of the demonstration project in providing health care
services to employed persons with disabilities.  Requires the department,
if the results of the evaluation indicate that the project is effective. to
incorporate a request for funding for the continuation or expansion of the
program in the department's budget request for the next state fiscal
biennium. 
 
  (f)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2003.

SECTION 2. Requires the department to request and actively pursue the award
of a federal grant authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act of 1999, as amended, to support the design, establishment,
and operation of infrastructures in this state that provide support
services for employed persons with disabilities.  Requires the department
to comply with any prerequisite imposed under the federal law to receiving
the grant. 

SECTION 3.  Requires the state agency responsible for implementing the
demonstration project required by Section 32.053, Human Resources Code, as
added by this Act, to request and actively pursue any necessary waivers or
authorizations from the Health Care Financing Administration of the United
States Department of Health and Human Services or other appropriate
entities to enable the agency to implement the demonstration project not
later than January 1, 2002.  Authorizes the agency to delay implementing
the demonstration project until the necessary waivers or authorizations are
granted. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.