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.