By Maxey H.B. No. 869
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to coordinated delivery of health and human services
1-3 programs.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 10, Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes,
1-6 is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to
1-7 read as follows:
1-8 (c) In developing a strategic health and human services plan
1-9 and plan updates under this section, the commissioner shall
1-10 consider:
1-11 (1) existing strategic plans of health and human
1-12 services agencies;
1-13 (2) the health and human services priorities and plans
1-14 submitted to the commissioner by governmental entities under
1-15 Subsection (e) of this section;
1-16 (3) facilitation of pending reorganizations or
1-17 consolidations of health and human services agencies and programs;
1-18 (4) <(3)> public comment, including comment documented
1-19 through public hearings conducted under Section 11 of this article;
1-20 and
1-21 (5) <(4)> budgetary issues, including projected agency
1-22 needs and projected availability of funds.
1-23 (e) The commissioner shall identify governmental entities
1-24 that coordinate the delivery of health and human services in
2-1 different regions, counties, and municipalities in the state and
2-2 shall request that each of these entities:
2-3 (1) identify the health and human services priorities
2-4 in the entity's jurisdiction and the most effective ways to deliver
2-5 and coordinate services in that jurisdiction;
2-6 (2) develop a coordinated plan for the delivery of
2-7 health and human services, including transition services that
2-8 prepare special education students for adulthood, in the entity's
2-9 jurisdiction; and
2-10 (3) if the entities agree to comply with the
2-11 commissioner's request, make the information described by
2-12 Subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section available to the
2-13 commission.
2-14 SECTION 2. Section 14(a), Article 4413(502), Revised
2-15 Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
2-16 (a) The commissioner shall:
2-17 (1) arbitrate and render a final decision on
2-18 interagency disputes;
2-19 (2) facilitate and enforce coordinated planning and
2-20 delivery of health and human services, including compliance with
2-21 the coordinated strategic plan, co-location of services, integrated
2-22 intake, and coordinated referral and case management;
2-23 (3) at the request of a governmental entity identified
2-24 under Section 10(e) of this article, assist the governmental entity
2-25 in implementing a coordinated plan, which may include co-location
2-26 of services, integrated intake, and coordinated referral and case
2-27 management, tailored to the needs and priorities of that entity;
3-1 (4) request budget execution for the transfer of funds
3-2 from one agency to another;
3-3 (5) <(4)> establish a federal health and human
3-4 services funds management system and maximize the availability of
3-5 those funds;
3-6 (6) <(5)> develop with the Department of Information
3-7 Resources automation standards for computer systems to enable
3-8 health and human services agencies, including agencies operating on
3-9 a local level, to share pertinent data;
3-10 (7) <(6)> establish and enforce uniform regional
3-11 boundaries for all health and human services agencies;
3-12 (8) <(7)> carry out statewide health and human
3-13 services needs surveys and forecasting;
3-14 (9) <(8)> perform independent special outcome
3-15 evaluations of health and human services programs and activities;
3-16 (10) <(9)> adopt rules necessary to carry out the
3-17 commission's duties under this Act; and
3-18 (11) <(10)> develop a formula for distribution of
3-19 funds that considers such need factors as client base, population,
3-20 and economic and geographic factors within the regions of the
3-21 state.
3-22 SECTION 3. Article 4413(502), Revised Statutes, is amended
3-23 by adding Section 10A to read as follows:
3-24 Sec. 10A. USE OF AGENCY STAFF. To the extent requested by
3-25 the commission, a health and human services agency shall assign
3-26 existing staff to perform a function under this article.
3-27 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
4-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-5 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-6 passage, and it is so enacted.