By Coleman H.B. No. 1087 77R3145 KLA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a demonstration project to establish a medical 1-3 assistance buy-in program for certain persons with disabilities. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 32.053 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 32.053. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE 1-8 BUY-IN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) The 1-9 department shall establish a demonstration project to implement a 1-10 medical assistance buy-in program in accordance with the Ticket to 1-11 Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 1-12 106-170) to provide medical assistance to: 1-13 (1) a person who: 1-14 (A) is at least 16 years of age, but is not more 1-15 than 64 years of age; and 1-16 (B) has earned income that exceeds the limit 1-17 established by federal law for eligibility for Supplemental 1-18 Security Income (SSI) (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.), but is 1-19 otherwise eligible for those benefits; and 1-20 (2) an employed individual with a medically improved 1-21 disability, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(v)(1). 1-22 (b) In establishing the demonstration project, the 1-23 department may: 1-24 (1) establish income, assets, and resource limitations 2-1 for eligibility for participation in the demonstration project; and 2-2 (2) require a participant in the demonstration project 2-3 to pay premiums and other cost-sharing charges in accordance with 2-4 42 U.S.C. Section 1396o(g)(1). 2-5 (c) The department shall require a participant in the 2-6 project to pay premiums to the extent required by 42 U.S.C. Section 2-7 1396o(g)(2). 2-8 (d) Not later than December 1, 2002, the department shall 2-9 evaluate the effectiveness of the demonstration project in 2-10 providing health care services to employed persons with 2-11 disabilities. If the results of the evaluation indicate that the 2-12 project is effective, the department shall incorporate a request 2-13 for funding for the continuation of the program in the department's 2-14 budget request for the next state fiscal biennium. 2-15 (e) This section expires September 1, 2003. 2-16 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.