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Senate Bill 200 |
Senate Author: Nelson et al. |
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Effective: See below |
House Sponsor: Price et al. |
Senate Bill 200 amends provisions of the Family Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Human Resources Code, and Insurance Code relating to the continuation and functions of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the provision of health and human services in Texas. The bill provides for consolidation within the health and human services system, accomplished through a two-phase transfer of system functions. In phase one of the consolidation, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the Health and Human Services Council, the Aging and Disability Services Council, the Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Council, the Family and Protective Services Council, the State Health Services Council, and the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders are abolished September 1, 2016, and, in phase two of the consolidation, the Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Office for the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities are abolished September 1, 2017. The bill requires the executive commissioner of HHSC to develop a transition plan and provides for the transfer and consolidation of the functions of abolished state agencies and entities, all client services of the health and human services system, the regulatory functions and functions related to state-operated institutions of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and the regulatory functions of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to HHSC. The bill creates the Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee to facilitate the transfer and to study and submit recommendations regarding the need to continue DFPS and DSHS as state agencies separate from HHSC. The bill creates the Health and Human Services Commission Executive Council to receive public input and advise the executive commissioner regarding the operation of HHSC.
The bill provides for the creation of various divisions, offices, and units within HHSC, transfers the administration of the Nurse-Family Partnership Competitive Grant Program from HHSC to DFPS, and establishes limited agency functions for DSHS and DFPS. The bill revises provisions regarding health and human services system operations, including provisions relating to the NorthSTAR behavioral health program and the administration of and services provided by the Medicaid program, creates the Drug Utilization Review Board, and abolishes more than 20 health and human services advisory committees and councils. The bill is effective September 1, 2015, but includes staggered effective dates for certain provisions to facilitate the rollout of the changes to the system.