By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1554
(Zerwas)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a Federal Medicaid Funding and Reform
Waivers 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. FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING AND REFORM WAIVERS [WAIVER]
SECTION 2. Chapter 537, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 537.001 to read as follows:
Sec. 537.001. FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING AND REFORM WAIVERS
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Committee" means the Federal Medicaid Funding and
Reform Waivers 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.
(3) "Medicaid per capita cap funding system" means a
system of funding Medicaid that provides for a set amount of federal
financial participation per Medicaid enrollee, subject to a preset
cost adjustment factor.
(b) The Federal Medicaid Funding and Reform Waivers
Legislative Oversight Committee is created as provided by this
section if:
(1) 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 a Medicaid per
capita cap funding system or requires that states receive that
money through a Medicaid block grant funding system or a Medicaid
per capita cap funding system; or
(2) the executive commissioner seeks a waiver under
Section 537.002.
(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) a Medicaid block grant waiver or Medicaid per
capita cap waiver, as applicable, 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 a Medicaid per capita cap funding system or requires that
states receive that money through a Medicaid block grant funding
system or a Medicaid per capita cap funding system; or
(B) any waiver sought under Section 537.002;
(2) facilitate a smooth transition from existing
Medicaid payment systems and benefit designs to a new model of
Medicaid that is enabled by a waiver described by Subdivision (1);
(3) meet at the call of the co-chairs; 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.