SRC-TJG S.B. 1170 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1170
By: Janek
Finance
3/30/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is the only
state agency designated to administer the Medicaid program.  The 2004-2005
budget proposal includes Medicaid funding to the state through block
grants.  As proposed, S.B. 1170 provides HHSC with statutory authority to
administer the Medicaid program if the funding is provided in block
grants. 

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 Section 22.002, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (j), to require the Health and Human Services Commission
(HHSC), if the Social Security Act is amended to make federal funds
available to states for the medical assistance program under Title XIX of
that Act on a block grant basis, as defined by federal law, and the state
elects to receive federal funds on that basis, to have the authority to
spend state funds for the medical assistance program. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 32.002, Human Resources Code, to require HHSC,
if the state elects to receive federal funds for the medical assistance
program on a block grant basis, as defined by federal law, in accordance
with a change in the Social Security Act, to have the authority described
by Section 22.002(j), and requires any provision of this chapter that
conflicts with that authority to be inoperative to the extent of the
conflict. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.