1-1     By:  Thompson, Chavez, et al.                          H.B. No. 154
 1-2          (Senate Sponsor - Gallegos)
 1-3           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2001;
 1-4     May 10, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
 1-5     and Human Services; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the
 1-6     following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 2; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-7                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-8                                   AN ACT
 1-9     relating to the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid
1-10     recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  Section 32.024(v), Human Resources Code, as added
1-13     by Chapter 1333, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session,
1-14     1999, is amended to read as follows:
1-15           (v)  The department shall set a [is authorized to increase
1-16     the] personal needs allowance of not less than $60 [above the
1-17     minimum of $30] a month[, subject to the availability of funds,]
1-18     for a resident of a convalescent or nursing home or related
1-19     institution licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code,
1-20     personal care facility, ICF-MR facility, or other similar long-term
1-21     care facility who receives medical assistance.  The department may
1-22     send the personal needs allowance directly to a resident who
1-23     receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (42 U.S.C. Section 1381
1-24     et seq.). This subsection does not apply to a resident who is
1-25     participating in a medical assistance waiver program administered
1-26     by the department.
1-27           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
1-28     applies only to a personal needs allowance paid on or after that
1-29     date.
1-30                                  * * * * *