BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 869 By: Maxey (Sponsor) Health and Human Services 5-11-95 Senate Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND In 1991, Texas lawmakers adopted 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 to "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 As proposed, H.B. 869 requires the commissioner of health and human services 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. H.B. 869 also requires the commissioner to assist local governmental entities in implementing coordinated plans tailored to the needs of the entities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and the Texas Department of Human Services under SECTION 4 (Section 533.044(a), Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 10, Article 4413(502), V.T.C.S., by amending Subsection (c), and adding Subsection (e), as follows: (c) Requires the commissioner of health and human services (commissioner), in developing a strategic health and human services plan and plan updates under this section, to consider, among other factors, the health and human services priorities and plans submitted to the commissioner by governmental entities under Subsection (e) of this section. (e) Requires the commissioner to identify governmental entities that coordinate the delivery of health and human services in different regions, counties, and municipalities in the state, and to request that each of these entities identify the health and human services priorities in the entity's jurisdiction and the most effective ways to deliver and coordinate services in that jurisdiction; develop a coordinated plan for the delivery of services; and make the information described by Subdivisions (1) and (2) available to the Health and Human Services Commission (commission). SECTION 2. Amends Section 14(a), Article 4413(502), V.T.C.S., to require the commissioner to arbitrate and render the final decision in interagency disputes; at the request of a governmental entity identified under Section 10(e) of this article, among other requirements, to assist the entity in implementing a coordinated plan tailored to the needs and priorities of that entity; and to develop with the Department of Information Resources automation standards for computer systems to enable health and human services agencies, including agencies operating on a local level, to share pertinent data. SECTION 3. Amends Article 4413(502), V.T.C.S., by adding Section 10A, as follows: Sec. 10A. USE OF AGENCY STAFF. Requires a health and human services agency, to the extent requested by the commission, to assign existing staff to perform a function under this article. SECTION 4. Amends Section 533.044(a), Health and Safety Code, to require the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) and the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS), by rule, to adopt a joint memorandum of understanding that requires the use of a uniform assessment tool to assess whether an elderly person, a person with mental retardation, a person with a developmental disability, or a person who is suspected of being a person with mental retardation or a developmental disability and who is receiving services in a facility regulated or operated by MHMR or DHS needs a guardian of the person or estate, or both. SECTION 5. COORDINATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. (a) Requires the commissioner, in collaboration with certain agencies, to coordinate the program services, eligibility requirements, funding, enrollment periods, fees, and administrative functions of the child care programs of DHS and the prekindergarten programs of the Central Education Agency no later than December 1, 1996. (b) Requires the commissioner to report the results of the initiative prescribed by this provision to the legislature on or before December 1, 1996. (c) Declares that nothing in this section shall be construed to transfer funding for or the administration of childcare or prekindergarten programs to the commission. SECTION 6. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.