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.