BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 2660
By: Hilderbran
04-19-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

     Federal funds through the Older Americans Act provide an array
of services for Texans aged 60 and up, under the administration of
the Texas Department on Aging (TDOA).  The Department in turn
delegates responsibility for service delivery to local area
agencies on aging who provide nutrition, transportation, and
related services to the elderly either directly or through
contracts with public and private providers.  

     In most parts of the state, the 28 area agencies on aging
(AAAs) operate as part of one of the 24 regional councils of
government (COGs).  Funding for AAAs derives from the Older
Americans Act through TDOA, and through state and local resources
as well.  

     In an effort to reorganize health and human services in Texas,
the 72nd Legislature enacted H.B. 7 in 1991, directing the Health
& Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish eleven (11) health
& human services regions for planning and organizing the functions
of the state health & human services agencies under the HHSC
umbrella.  Although TDOA is represented among the umbrella
agencies, the 28 AAAs are not specifically organized to function
within the 11 regions, resulting in confusion regarding how best to
coordinate services delivered by the AAAs.


PURPOSE

     H.B. 2660 would provide the AAAs with a specified role in the
planning of health & human services delivery, permitting
aggregation of data and coordination of services for the elderly at
the local level.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

     H.B. 2660 grants the Texas Dept. on Aging new rulemaking
authority in Sec. 101.032(a) relating to the submission of plans
and data relative to the services delivered by AAAs to elderly
Texans.


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Declares short title for this Act, the Older Texans'
Regional Coordination Act.

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 101, Human Resources Code, by adding new
Section 101.032 as follows:

Sec. 101.032.  AREA AGENCIES ON AGING.

(a)  Requires the largest area agency on aging (AAA) in each of the
11 health & human services regions to aggregate plans and data on
services to the elderly for submission to the Texas Dept. on Aging
(TD0A) for incorporation into the Department's strategic plan. 
Prohibits TDOA from allocating additional funds to AAA to carry out
this task.  Requires TDOA to adopt rules relating to the submission
of this information.

(b)  Unless otherwise authorized by the legislature, the LBB or the
Commissioner of the Health & Human Services Comm'n, requires TDOA
to decentralize its services through AAAs designated by TDOA as of
January 1, 1995, with AAA boundaries maintained consistent with the
planning areas of the councils of government.

(c)  Holds AAAs within each HHSC region jointly responsible for
coordinating their own services within the region.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause, effective in 90 days.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

     The substitute version of H.B. 2660 requires AAAs to prepare
data relating to service delivery for submission to TDOA rather
than require the state agency to employ a person to aggredate the
information.  The revised language should eliminate the fiscal note
on the original bill.

     Additionally, the substitute recognized that regional
boundaries may need to reflect changes in federal laws if block
grants and other similar revisions occur.  The substitute allows
the legislature, the LBB and the HHSC to change boundaries as
necessary.  


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

     The House Human Services Committee convened in a public
hearing on April 3, 1995, and the Chairman laid out H.B. 2660 by
Rep. Hilderbran and explained the bill.  The following witnesses
testified for H.B. 2660:  

Al S. Notzen, Alamo Area Council of Governments
Bill Lofland, representing himself and the Texas Ass'n of Regional
Councils
Paul Edwards, Middle Rio Grande Development Council
Brad Helbert, Abilene
Jim Ray, Texas Ass'n of Regional Councils (Councils of Governments)

The following witness testified against H.B. 2660:  Jose Camacho,
Austin.  The following witness testified as neutral on H.B. 2660: 
Anita Bradberry, Texas Ass'n for Home Care.  H.B. 2660 was left
pending.

     On April 19, the committee considered H.B. 2660 which had been
pending.  The Chairman offered a committee substitute and
recognized Rep. Krusee who moved adoption.  Hearing no objection,
the substitute for H.B. 2660 was adopted.  Rep. Krusee also moved
to report H.B. 2660 favorably as substituted and the motion
prevailed by a record vote of 9 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 PNV and 0 Absent.