By: Schwertner S.J.R. No. 61

(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2013; March 18, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 29, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 3; April 29, 2013, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.J.R. No. 61 By: Nelson

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the reduction of amounts paid by Texans to provide health care to the uninsured if Medicaid eligibility is expanded in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; requiring hospital district and county tax rate reductions.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 51-b to read as follows:

Sec. 51-b. If this state expands eligibility for medical assistance in accordance with and provides medical assistance using federal matching funds made available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148) as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-152) to provide that assistance, the legislature shall:

(1) by law prescribe appropriate rate reductions for taxes imposed by hospital districts and counties in this state that reflect the reduction of health care costs of those districts and counties resulting from the receipt of additional federal funds for providing that assistance; and

(2) reduce the amount of money appropriated for providing uncompensated care to residents of this state to reflect the reduced need for that care.

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013. The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the reduction of amounts paid by Texans to provide health care to the uninsured if Medicaid eligibility is expanded in accordance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; requiring hospital district and county tax rate reductions."

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