BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 869 By: Maxey 04-03-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND In 1991, Texas lawmakers adopted as part of House Bill 7 a "systems approach" to integrated health and human services delivery. Three pilot projects were authorized in different sized locales of the state to demonstrate and evaluate the effects of integrated service delivery through streamlined client processing and improved client access at "one-stop shopping" centers. For the "one-stop shopping" concept to succeed, health and human services staff at all levels must be involved in the development of priorities and plans designed to meet the health and human services delivery needs of each community. PURPOSE H.B. 869 would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to consider priorities and plans submitted by governmental entities that coordinate the delivery of health and human services in different regions, counties and cities as part of the strategic planning process. The bill would direct HHSC to assist local governmental entities in implementing coordinated plans, tailored to the needs of the entity. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 10, Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes, by amending subsection (c) and adding new subsection (e) as follows: (c) Requires HHSC to consider priorities and plans submitted to the commissioner by governmental entities; (e) Requires HHSC to identify governmental entities that coordinate the delivery of health and human services, and request that governmental entities identify the health and human services priorities within the entity's jurisdiction, develop a coordinated plan for the delivery of health and human services, and make this information available to HHSC. SECTION 2. Amends Section 14(a), Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes, by adding new subsection (3) and amending (6) as follows: (a)(3) Requires the Commissioner to assist local governmental entities in implementing coordinated plans, including co-location of services, integrated intake and coordinated referral and case management, tailored to the needs and priorities of the entity. (6) Requires HHSC to develop automation standards, with the Department of Information Resources, to enable agencies operating on a local level to share pertinent data. SECTION 3. Amends Sec. 10, Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes, by adding a new section allowing the Commission to use staff from other health and human services agencies to perform functions. SECTION 4: Emergency clause, effective in 90 days. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The committee substitute for H.B. 869 differs from the original bill by adding language to ensure that transition services for school-age students will be included in coordinated health & human services plans; restoring language relating to compliance with the coordinated strategic plan; and allowing HHSC to avail itself of employees from other agencies to assist in the implementation of this legislation. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION On March 29, 1995, the Human Services Committee convened in a public hearing and the Chairman laid out H.B. 869. Rep. Maxey offered a committee substitute. The following witnesses testified for H.B. 869: Nancy Epstein, Disability Policy Consortium; Heather Fenstermaker, Texas Ass'n of Home Care; Mary Jo Magruder, Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities; Barrett Markland, Advocacy, Inc. No one testified against or neutral on H.B. 869. The substitute was withdrawn and H.B. 869 was left pending. While in public hearing on April 3, the committee took up H.B. 869 which had been pending. Rep. Maxey offered a committee substitute and moved adoption. Hearing no objection, the committee substitute for H.B. 869 was adopted. Rep. Davila moved to report H.B. 869 favorably, as substituted. The motion prevailed by a record vote of 9 Ayes, 0 Nayes, 0 PNV, 0 Absent.