Amend CSSB 7 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 2 of the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 2 accordingly:

SECTION 2.____.  INTERIM STUDY REGARDING STAR + PLUS EXPANSION IN NURSING FACILITIES. (a) A select interim committee is created to study and review:

(1)  the requirement under Section 533.00251(c), Government Code, as added by this Act, that medical assistance program recipients who reside in nursing facilities receive nursing facility benefits through the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program; and

(2)  the implementation of that requirement.

(b)  The committee is composed of members of each standing committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over health and human services. Not later than October 1, 2013, the chair of each standing committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over health and human services shall appoint as many members to the select interim committee as each chair considers necessary to complete the committee's purposes.

(c)  Not later than December 1, 2013, the members appointed to the committee shall select from among the committee members a presiding officer of the committee. The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding officer.

(d)  The committee has all other powers and duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on health and human services.

(e)  Not later than January 15, 2015, the committee shall report the committee's findings and recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor. The committee shall include in its recommendations specific statutory, rule, and procedural changes that appear necessary from the results of the committee's study under Subsection (a) of this section.

(f)  The committee is abolished January 20, 2015.