1-1 By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 51 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed November 13, 2000; January 10, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 1-4 Services; April 9, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable 1-5 Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 1; 1-6 April 9, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 51 By: Carona 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to the provision of Medicaid to certain persons making the 1-11 transition from foster care to independent living. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 1-14 is amended by adding Section 32.0247 to read as follows: 1-15 Sec. 32.0247. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PERSONS MAKING 1-16 TRANSITION FROM FOSTER CARE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING. (a) In this 1-17 section, "independent foster care adolescent" has the meaning 1-18 assigned by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(w)(1), as amended. 1-19 (b) The department shall provide medical assistance, in 1-20 accordance with department rules, to an independent foster care 1-21 adolescent who: 1-22 (1) is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance; 1-23 and 1-24 (2) is not covered by a health benefits plan offering 1-25 adequate benefits, as determined by the Health and Human Services 1-26 Commission. 1-27 (c) The department may not consider a person's income, 1-28 assets, or resources in determining whether the person is eligible 1-29 for medical assistance under this section. 1-30 SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of 1-31 this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit an 1-32 amendment to the state's Medicaid plan to include the provision of 1-33 medical assistance to independent foster care adolescents as 1-34 required by Section 32.0247, Human Resources Code, as added by this 1-35 Act. 1-36 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-37 * * * * *