BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1053
By: Raymond
04-19-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

     Domestic violence accounts for nearly one-fourth of all
violent crime in Texas.  In FY 1993, more than 750,000 women in
Texas were physically or sexually abused by their husbands or
partners.  During the same period, Texas shelters housed 27,592
women and children.  However, another approximately 9,600 victims
were denied shelter services because no space was available.  

     Texas family violence shelters operate through contracts
awarded by the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) and local
funds.  In 1993, DHS contracted with 62 family violence shelters
operated by public or private non-profit entities, in 144 Texas
counties at a cost of about $8 million.


PURPOSE

     H.B. 1053 seeks to expand funding for family violence shelters
in Texas by requiring the Department of Human Services to apply for
matching federal emergency assistance funds under Title IV-A of the
Social Security Act to use for family violence services.  Emergency
Assistance is intended for needy families with children "if the
assistance is necessary to avoid the destitution of a child or to
provide living arrangements in a home for the child."  Family
shelters can provide services to needy families for six to 12
months using federal emergency assistance funds.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

     H.B. 1053 grants the Texas Dept. of Human Services rulemaking
authority in Sec. 15.0051(3) relating to the development of
reporting procedures for services to victims of family violence in
order to draw down matching federal funds under the Emergency
Assistance plan.


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1.  Amends Chapter 51, Human Resources Code, by adding new
Section 51.0051 as follows:

Sec. 51.0051.  MAXIMIZING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT
VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.  In order to maximize federal funding
for family violence victims, requires DHS to:

(1)  Ensure that contracts for family violence services include
provisions to maximize federal funding;

(2)  Amend the state's emergency assistance plan to maximize
federal funding; and 

(3)  Establish by rule reporting procedures required by federal law
to receive federal matching funds.

SECTION 2.  Effective date, September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

     In a public hearing on April 10, 1995, the Chairman laid out
H.B. 1053 and recognized Rep. Raymond to explain the bill.  No one
testified for, against or on H.B. 1053.  Rep. Raymond closed and
H.B. 1053 was left pending.

     On April 19, the committee took up H.B. 1053 which had been
pending.  The Chairman recognized Rep. Maxey to explain the bill. 
Rep. Maxey also moved to report H.B. 1053 favorably without
amendment.  The motion prevailed by a record vote of 9 Ayes, 0
Nays, 0 PNV, and 0 Absent.