By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 866


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an interim planning commission for the Medicaid and 
State Child Health Plan programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  CREATION OF INTERIM PLANNING COMMISSION.  
(a)  The Medicaid and State Child Health Plan Program Interim 
Planning Commission is composed of:
		(1)  11 members appointed by the governor, including:                         
			(A)  one member representing primary care 
physicians;                      
			(B)  one member representing health care benefit 
plan issuers;             
			(C)  one member representing non-profit 
hospitals;                         
			(D)  one member representing a county that 
transfers tax revenues under the disproportionate share program;
			(E)  one member representing children's 
hospitals;                         
			(F)  one member representing medical specialists;                            
			(G)  one member representing the uninsured; and                              
			(H)  one member representing community-based 
alternative programs;         
			(I)  one member representing long-term care 
providers;                     
			(J)  one member representing community mental 
health and mental retardation centers established under Subchapter 
A, Chapter 534, Health and Safety Code.
		(2)  five members appointed by the lieutenant governor, 
including four members who are members of the senate; and
		(3)  five members appointed by the speaker of the house 
of representatives, including four members who are members of the 
house of representatives.
	(b)  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of 
representatives shall each appoint a co-presiding officer of the 
commission from among the members of the commission.
	SECTION 2.  DUTIES.  (a)  The commission shall study the 
overall effectiveness of the Medicaid and State Child Health Plan 
programs and evaluate:
		(1)  the effect of any changes to the programs 
resulting from changes in federal law or regulation, including any 
new waiver initiatives, and the effect on the Medicaid program of 
opting to receive a federal Medicaid block grant, if available; and
		(2)  the effectiveness of this state's current health 
care spending, including an identification of areas and programs 
that are not using the maximum available amount of federal funding 
and that could be improved through use of new federal waivers or 
expansion of current pilot programs.
	(b)  In evaluating the option of a federal Medicaid block 
grant, the commission shall:
		(1)  seek input of all major stakeholders regarding the 
manner in which that option would improve services currently 
available under the Medicaid and State Child Health Plan programs; 
and
		(2)  identify how each affected stakeholder would be 
positively affected by implementation of that option.
	SECTION 3.  FUNDING.  Amounts reasonably required by the 
commission to perform its duties under this Act, as well as 
necessary administrative support, shall be provided cooperatively 
by the office of the governor, the senate, and the house of 
representatives using existing resources otherwise available to 
those entities.
	SECTION 4.  REPORT.  Not later than November 1, 2004, the 
commission shall deliver a report of its conclusions to the 
legislature, the governor, and appropriate state agencies with 
oversight of the Medicaid and State Child Health Plan programs.  The 
report must include recommendations for:
		(1)  planning necessary to assure the continued 
operation of the Medicaid and State Child Health Plan programs for a 
10-year period; and
		(2)  actions necessary to assure that the state takes 
full advantage of all options available under the Medicaid and 
State Child Health Plan programs to better support all stakeholders 
in the programs.
	SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION.  The commission is abolished 
September 1, 2005.      
	SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect 
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all members 
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas 
Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for 
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.