BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         H.B. 340
                                           By: Counts (Zaffirini)
                                                          Finance
                                                         05-16-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The State of Texas has a veteran population of approximately 1.8
million, among whom over 65,000 are over the age of 60.  A large
number of elderly veterans are needy and require continuous medical
care, domiciliary and/or nursing home care during the last years of
their lives.  State homes are already established in 43 other
states for disabled veterans.  These states also furnish nursing
home care for such veterans, with the cost of the homes shared by
the federal government through per diem payments, construction
grants, and veteran participant fees.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 340 authorizes the Texas Veterans Commission to
determine the need for a system of state residential care
facilities for disabled veterans.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 434A, Government Code, by adding Section
434.0075, as follows:

     Sec.  434.0075.  FINDINGS AND STUDY ABOUT RESIDENTIAL CARE
     FACILITIES.  (a)  Sets forth the findings of the legislature
     regarding residential state care facilities for veterans who
     are disabled by age, disease, or other causes and who, because
     of their disabilities, are incapable of earning a living.
     
     (b)  Requires the Texas Veterans Commission (commission) to
       contract with a qualified consulting firm to study the need
       for and the feasibility of establishing a system of
       residential care facilities for disabled veterans under the
       jurisdiction of the commission or of another agency of state
       government.  Requires the commission to present the written
       findings of the study to the governor and the presiding
       officer of each house of the legislature before December 1,
       1997.
       
       (c)  Provides that the commission is required to enter into
       a contract under this section only if the legislature
       appropriates money for that purpose.  Authorizes the
       commission to use available resources to conduct its own
       study of the issue if the legislature does not appropriate
       money for the contract.
       
       (d)  Provides that this section expires June 1, 1999.
     SECTION 2.     Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.