SRC-JFA H.C.R. 44 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.C.R. 44
By: Delisi (Moncrief)
Health & Human Services
5-15-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Since 1987, five local health departments have discontinued services in
Upsher, Del Rio, Valverde, Eagle Pass and Wilson counties.  When a county
or city discontinues local funding of public health services, the state
must fill in the gaps in regard to such health services.  There is no law
establishing the responsibility of a local government to provide health
services.  The state does not have adequate resources to perform these
additional health care functions.   

This resolution would direct the Department of Health, the Lyndon Baines
Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, The
University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health,
and the Blackland Research Center and the School of Rural Public Health at
Texas A&M University to study the role of local governments in providing
health services and to report their findings from the study to the
legislature by the beginning of the 76th Legislative Session.   
  
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.C.R. 44 submits the following resolutions:

To direct the Texas Department of Health, the Lyndon Baines Johnson School
of Public Affairs of the University of Texas, The University of
Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health, and the
Blackland Research Center and the School of Rural Public Health of the
Texas A&M University System, within their existing resources and in
conjunction with city and county governments, to study the current role of
local governments in providing health services.  

Provides that the agencies submit a full report of their findings and
recommendations to the 76th Legislature when it convenes in January 1999.  

Provides that the secretary of state forward an official copy of this
resolution to the commissioner of health, the dean of the Lyndon Baines
Johnson School of Public Affairs, the dean of The University of
Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health, the directors
of the Blackland Research Center and the School of Rural Public Health,
the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System and the chancellor of
the University of Texas System.   

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1. 

Page 1, line 19, between "Texas" and "and", insert "The University of
Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health,".   

Page 2, line 6, between "Affairs" and "the", insert "the dean of The
University of TexasHouston Health Science Center School of Public
Health,".