HBA-NLM, NLM, RAR H.B. 143 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 143 By: Thompson Human Services 2/26/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Medicaid residents in nursing homes have an allowance of $30 a month for all personal needs. This amount has not been increased since 1983. H.B. 143 sets the personal needs allowance for Medicaid residents in nursing homes at $60 a month. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, by adding Subsection (v), to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to set a personal needs allowance of not less than $60 a month for a person who receives medical assistance and resides in a licensed convalescent home or other similar long-term care facility. Authorizes the HHSC to send the allowance directly to a resident who receives Supplemental Security Income. Provides that this subsection does not apply to a resident participating in a medical assistance waiver program administered by HHSC. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes the application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.