85R10398 KFF-F
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1554
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a Medicaid Block Grant Waiver Legislative
Oversight Committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 537, Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 537. MEDICAID BLOCK GRANT AND REFORM WAIVERS [WAIVER]
SECTION 2. Chapter 537, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 537.001 to read as follows:
Sec. 537.001. MEDICAID BLOCK GRANT WAIVER LEGISLATIVE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Committee" means the Medicaid Block Grant Waiver
Legislative Oversight Committee created under this section.
(2) "Medicaid block grant funding system" means a
system of funding Medicaid that provides for a set total amount of
federal financial participation regardless of program enrollment.
(b) If the federal government authorizes states to opt to
receive the federal share of money for the operation of Medicaid
through a Medicaid block grant funding system or requires that
states receive that money through a Medicaid block grant funding
system, the Medicaid Block Grant Waiver Legislative Oversight
Committee is created as provided by this section to facilitate
waiver efforts with respect to the system by which Medicaid is
funded in this state.
(c) The committee is composed of eight members, as follows:
(1) four members of the senate, appointed by the
lieutenant governor; and
(2) four members of the house of representatives,
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(d) A member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the
appointing official.
(e) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the
committee members.
(f) A member of the committee may not receive compensation
for serving on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for
travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the
business of the committee as provided by the General Appropriations
Act.
(g) The committee shall:
(1) facilitate the design and development of a
Medicaid block grant waiver;
(2) facilitate a smooth transition from existing
Medicaid payment systems and benefit designs to a new model of
Medicaid enabled by the waiver described by Subdivision (1) of this
subsection;
(3) meet at the call of the presiding officer; and
(4) research, take public testimony, and issue reports
requested by the lieutenant governor or speaker of the house of
representatives.
(h) The committee may request reports and other information
from the commission.
(i) The committee shall use existing staff of the senate,
the house of representatives, and the Texas Legislative Council to
assist the committee in performing its duties under this section.
(j) Chapter 551 applies to the committee.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.