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


Senate Research Center   S.B. 831
77R2897 KLA-DBy: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
3/6/2001
As Filed


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.  As proposed, S.B. 831 creates two pilot
programs, one rural and one urban, 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 determine the sites of the program and
operate the program in two specific geographic areas of the state, with one
site in an urban area and the other in a rural area.   

(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 submit a
report to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature on the
effectiveness of the program and the feasibility of expanding the program
statewide. 

 (f)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2003.

SECTION 2.  Requires the Texas Department of Human Services, not later than
January 1, 2002, to develop and implement the program under Section 32.053,
Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.