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.