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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