79R16289 UM-D


By:  Nelson                                                       S.B. No. 44 

Substitute the following for S.B. No. 44:                                     

By:  McReynolds                                               C.S.S.B. No. 44 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Indigent Health Care Advisory Committee.                      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 61, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 61.012 to read as follows:
	Sec. 61.012.  INDIGENT HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  
(a)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services 
Commission shall establish an advisory committee to advise the 
commission on rules and policies concerning indigent health care 
services.
	(b)  The advisory committee shall consist of 11 members, 
including four consumers or persons representing consumers and 
seven other representatives, appointed by the executive 
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
	(c)  The advisory committee shall:                                      
		(1)  conduct a feasibility study and develop 
recommendations regarding the implementation of a pilot program for 
the regionalization of county indigent health care services and 
assistance and hospital district services and assistance;
		(2)  review and propose recommendations for 
legislation updating indigent health care and treatment under this 
chapter, including:
			(A)  the health care services provided under 
Subchapter B;          
			(B)  the differences in eligibility requirements 
for and health care services provided by:
				(i)  a county under Subchapter B;                                    
				(ii)  a public hospital under Subchapter C; 
and                    
				(iii)  a hospital district under Subchapter 
C;                     
			(C)  the allocation method used for distributing 
state assistance funds; and
			(D)  county reporting requirements and 
enforcement by the department; and
		(3)  identify other areas or subjects related to 
indigent health care that the advisory committee could review or 
study.
	(d)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the 
size or composition of the advisory committee.
	(e)  Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, 
the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit a report 
regarding the advisory committee's recommendations to the 
governor, lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of 
representatives, and the legislature.
	(f)  This section expires September 1, 2007.                            
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.