78R2133 KEG-D

By:  Duncan                                                       S.B. No. 941


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the continuous eligibility of certain children for medical assistance benefits. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 10(c), Chapter 584, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows: (c) The Health and Human Services Commission or the appropriate state agency operating part of the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, shall adopt rules required by Section 32.0261, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, so that the rules take effect in accordance with that section not earlier than September 1, 2005 [2002, or later than June 1, 2003]. The rules must provide for a 12-month period of continuous eligibility in accordance with that section for a child whose initial or continued eligibility is determined on or after the effective date of the rules. SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the 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.