Enrolled Bill Summary

The Department of Human Services (DHS) underwent sunset review in 1998. The 76th Legislature did not pass the sunset bill for the department in 1999, but DHS was continued for 12 years. In 2001, the 77th Legislature passed Senate Bill 309, which required the Sunset Advisory Commission to conduct a special-purpose review of DHS. Senate Bill 285 responds to that review. In addition to including across-the-board sunset provisions, the bill requires the department to develop a business plan for each service region and requires the commissioner's annual report to include certain information relating to client-centered outcome measures. The bill includes provisions related to service referrals for certain clients and procedures for determining eligibility for community care services for elderly persons or persons with disabilities. Senate Bill 285 requires DHS, in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and local workforce development boards, to conduct a survey of best practices used to transition clients between local department offices and workforce centers and to revise and update the memorandum of understanding and coordinated interagency case management plan between DHS and TWC.