H.B. No. 52
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid
  recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 32.024(w), Human Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (w)  The department shall set a personal needs allowance of
  not less than $60 [$45] a month for a resident of a convalescent or
  nursing home or related institution licensed under Chapter 242,
  Health and Safety Code, personal care facility, ICF-MR facility, or
  other similar long-term care facility who receives medical
  assistance. The department may send the personal needs allowance
  directly to a resident who receives Supplemental Security Income
  (SSI) (42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.). This subsection does not
  apply to a resident who is participating in a medical assistance
  waiver program administered by the department.
         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.  Section 32.024(w), Human Resources Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies only to a personal needs allowance paid
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 52 was passed by the House on May 11,
  2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 52 was passed by the Senate on May 22,
  2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor