BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 161
                                                     By: Moncrief
                                        Health and Human Services
                                                          3-30-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

H.B. 7, 72nd Legislature, First Called Session, failed to make all
of the necessary language changes when certain responsibilities
were transferred from the Department of Human Services to the
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. In addition, some
of the terminology is inconsistent with federal law on adoption and
medical assistance.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 161 modifies the language of Chapter 47, Human
Resources Code, regarding adoption, to comply with the original
intent and to be consistent with federal law.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 47, Human Resources Code, as follows:

  CHAPTER 47.  ADOPTION SERVICES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE
AND                     REGULATORY SERVICES

     Sec. 47.001.  New title: DEFINITIONS.  Defines "child,"
     "department," and "adoption assistance agreement."
     
     Sec. 47.002.  New title: ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  (a) 
     Requires the department to address the needs, as well as the
     availability of children when promoting adoption.  Makes
     conforming changes.
     
     (b)-(c)  Make conforming changes.
       
     Sec. 47.003.  DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.  Makes conforming
     changes.
     
     Sec. 47.004.  New title: FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. 
     (a)  Requires the department to enter into adoption assistance
     agreements with the adoptive parents of a child authorized
     under Part E of Title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
     Section 673).  Makes a conforming change.
     
     (b)  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
       
       (c)  Makes a conforming change.
       
       (d)  Deletes the requirement that the state pay a subsidy. 
       Makes a conforming change.
       
       Sec. 47.005.  FUNDS.  Requires other state agencies, as well
     as the department, to actively seek and use federal funds
     available for the purposes of this chapter.  Deletes existing
     Subsection (b).
     
     Sec. 47.006.  New title:  PROVISION OF POSTADOPTION SERVICES. 
     Redesignates existing Section 47.031. Adds crisis intervention
     as a service the department is authorized to provide.  Deletes
     existing Section 47.032.
     
     Sec. 47.007.  RACE OR ETHNICITY.  Redesignates existing
     Section 47.041.  Makes a conforming change.
     
     SECTION 2.  Abolishes the Postadoption Services Advisory Committee.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.