BILL ANALYSIS


HUMAN SERVICES
C.S.S.B. 290
By: Zaffirini (Maxey)
4-17-97
Committee Report (substituted)



BACKGROUND

Currently, technical assistance for human service providers 
includes a variety of services and 
activities designed to help providers understand and comply with 
the requirements of the 
programs and contracts in which they participate.  Most technical 
assistance is provided by state 
agency personnel through a myriad of printed materials, field 
visits, and conferences, and is 
organized so that providers receive separate guidance from each 
program or agency from which 
they receive funds.  As a result, most technical assistance 
systems suffer from lack of consistency 
and comprehensiveness.  This bill requires the health and human 
service agencies, in conjunction 
with the Department of Information Resources and with the lead of 
the Health and Human 
Services Commission, to coordinate and enhance their existing 
Internet sites to provide technical 
assistance to human services providers, including updates on 
changes in the state and federal 
welfare reform.  Any information regarding a client must be 
confidential. 

PURPOSE

This bill requires the health and human service agencies, in 
conjunction with the Department of 
Information Resources and with the lead of the Health and Human 
Services Commission, to 
coordinate and enhance their existing internet sites to provide 
technical assistance for human 
services providers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.Amends Chapter 531A, Government Code, by adding Section 
531.013, as 
follows:

Sec. 531.013.Electronic Availability of Technical Assistance.  
Requires health and human 
service agencies, in conjunction with the Department of 
Information Resources, to 
coordinate and enhance their existing Internet sites to provide 
technical assistance 
for human services providers. Requires the Health and Human 
Services 
Commission (commission) to take the lead and ensure involvement 
of agencies 
with the greatest potential for cost savings. Authorizes 
assistance under this 
section to include information on certain subjects. Requires the 
commission and 
health and human service agencies to file a report regarding the 
cost-effectiveness 
of using the Internet site to coordinate and enhance technical 
assistance for human 
services providers with the governor, lieutenant governor, 
speaker of the house of 
representatives, and the Senate Committee on Health and Human 
Services not 
later than September 1, 1998. Provides that this subsection 
expires January 1, 
1999.

Sec. 531.013(c) requires assistance under this section must 
include information on the federal; 
and state welfare reform changes.

 Sec. 531.013(d) requires that assistance may not include 
confidential client information.

SECTION 2. Effective Date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

In the committee substitute, Subsections (c) and (d) are added to 
SECTION 1, Sec. 531.013.

SECTION 1, Sec. 531.013.Electronic Availability of Technical 
Assistance.
 
 (c)Assistance under this section must include information on the 
impact of federal and 
state welfare reform changes on human services providers.

 (d)Assistance under this section may not include any confidential 
information regarding 
a client of a human services provider.