BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3466

By: Campos

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Legislature enacted legislation in 2013 providing for state grants to entities to establish or expand community collaboratives that bring the public and private sectors together to provide services to persons experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues, or mental illness. However, there is a need for a special fund in the treasury to administer the grant program that consists of legislative appropriations, dedicated revenue, applicable interest, and any other money from gifts, grants, or donations. H.B. 3466 seeks to create the community collaboratives fund as a special account within the state treasure to dedicate funding exclusively for the purpose of the community collaboratives grant program. Additionally, the bill establishes a reporting requirement, ensuring the legislature receives timely and consistent information on participating entities, the number of persons served by community collaboratives, and the performance of community collaboratives based on established metrics.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3466 amends the Government Code to establish the community collaboratives fund as a special fund in the state treasury consisting of legislative appropriations to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for a fund purpose, any revenue that by law is dedicated for deposit to the fund, interest or other earnings on money credited or allocable to the fund, and money from gifts, grants, or donations to the fund. The bill limits the purposes for which DSHS may use the fund to providing grants to entities in accordance with statutory provisions relating to community collaboratives and paying the necessary and reasonable expenses of administering the fund.

H.B. 3466 requires DSHS to prepare a biennial report that includes the following:

· the method by which DSHS chose grant recipients;

· the amount of each grant awarded;

· the number of individuals served by each community collaborative receiving grant funds; and

· the results of the annual review of community collaboratives outcome measures.

The bill requires DSHS, not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, to submit the report to the Legislative Budget Board and the standing committees of the legislature having jurisdiction over DSHS and state finance.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.