BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2208
By: Hilderbran
04-03-95
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND
The state agencies under the Texas Health and Human Services
Commission contract with various local transportation providers
throughout the state to provide transportation for citizens
utilizing health and human services programs. The transportation
providers are reimbursed with a 50-50 state-federal match rate.
The 73rd Legislature passed H.B. 2255 which allowed the
transportation providers to bill the state agencies at the
applicable trip cost, but allowed the transportation provider to be
reimbursed with only the federal match for the AFDC-JOBS program
only. H.B. 2255 produced a net savings for the AFDC-JOBS program.
PURPOSE
H.B. 2208 would require health and human services agencies to enter
into agreements with transit authorities to provide transportation
services to participants in a manner that is most cost effective
for the state. The legislation does not mandate that the state or
transit authorities extend eligibility for transportation services
to any individual.
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 Chapter 141, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
Regular Session, 1973 (Article 1118x, Vernon's Texas Civil
Statutes), by adding:
Sec. 15D. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR PERSONS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE
OR SERVICES FROM CERTAIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES.
(a) in addition to transportation services already provided,
requires transit authorities to provide assistance to:
(1) persons who receive assistance through a health and human
services agency, which the federal government mandates
transportational services.
(2) resides in an area served by the authority.
(b) requires authorities to enter into contacts with the applicable
health and human services agency, and requires that contracts must
provide that:
(1) the authority is only required to transport persons as it
relates to their participation in a health and human services
program.
(2) the authority is required to provide vouchers to the
administering health and human services agency.
(3) the health and human services agency reimburses the
authority only the federal match for allowable costs.
(4) allows the agency to return unused vouchers for
reimbursement.
(c) requires the authority to certify public funds expended for
obtaining the federal match.
(d) defines health and human services agency.
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 683, Acts of the 66th Legislature, 1979
(Article 1118y) by adding:
Sec. 21 B. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR PERSONS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE
OR SERVICES FROM CERTAIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES.
(a) in addition to transportation services already provided,
requires transit authorities to provide assistance to:
(1) persons who receive assistance through a health and human
services agency, which the federal government mandates
transportational services.
(2) resides in an area served by the authority.
(b) requires authorities to enter into contacts with the applicable
health and human services agency, and requires that contracts must
provide that:
(1) the authority is only required to transport persons as it
relates to their participation in a health and human services
program.
(2) the authority is required to provide vouchers to the
administering health and human services agency.
(3) the health and human services agency reimburses the
authority only the federal match for allowable costs.
(4) allows the agency to return unused vouchers for
reimbursement.
(c) requires the authority to certify public funds expended for
obtaining the federal match.
(d) defines health and human services agency.
SECTION 3. Amends Article 1118Z, Revised Statutes, by adding:
Sec. 6B. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR PERSONS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE
OR SERVICES FROM CERTAIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES.
(a) in addition to transportation services already provided,
requires transit authorities to provide assistance to:
(1) persons who receive assistance through a health and human
services agency, which the federal government mandates
transportational services.
(2) resides in an area served by the authority.
(b) requires authorities to enter into contacts with the applicable
health and human services agency, and requires that contracts must
provide that:
(1) the authority is only required to transport persons as it
relates to their participation in a health and human services
program.
(2) the authority is required to provide vouchers to the
administering health and human services agency.
(3) the health and human services agency reimburses the
authority only the federal match for allowable costs.
(4) allows the agency to return unused vouchers for
reimbursement.
(c) requires the authority to certify public funds expended for
obtaining the federal match.
(d) defines health and human services agency.
SECTION 4. Allows HHSC to seek federal waiver as needed to
implement the bill.
SECTION 5. Effective date, Sept. 1, 1995.
SECTION 6. Emergency clause.
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION
In a public hearing on March 29, 1995, the Chairman of the House
Human Services Committee laid out and explained H.B. 2208. The
following witness testified for H.B. 2208: Bruce Bower, Houston
Welfare Rights Organization. The following witness testified as
neutral on H.B. 2208: James C. Allison, Director, Medical
Transportation, TX Dept. of Health. No one testified against H.B.
2208 and the bill was left pending.
On April 3, the Committee convened in a public hearing and took up
H.B. 2208 which had been pending. Rep. Krusee moved to report H.B.
2208 favorably, without amendment. The motion prevailed by a
record vote of 9 Ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV, 0 Absent.