SRC-CDH S.B. 725 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 725
By: Madla
Health & Human Services
5-22-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, licensed personal care homes constitute a rapidly 
expanding industry.  These homes 
typically serve the elderly by providing a model of care that 
assists them in functioning with their 
disabilities while allowing them to remain within their 
communities.  However, individual 
municipalities have varied widely in their interpretation of the 
existing statute regarding what 
constitutes a community home, and licensed personal care homes 
are often exempted from that 
qualification.  The ever-growing number of elderly in Texas and 
ongoing initiatives by the 
Department of Human Services to utilize licensed personal care 
homes as a cost-effective alternative 
to state-funded, long-term care make this issue a concern.  This 
legislation clarifies the qualification 
of licensed personal care facilities and other community-based 
residential homes as community 
homes in an effort to ensure cost-efficient, community-based care 
for the elderly.       

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 725 establishes the qualifications of a 
personal care facility as a community home. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a 
state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 123.004, Human Resources Code, to 
require an entity, to qualify as 
a community home, to be a community-based residential home 
operated by a community center 
organized under Chapter 534A, Health and Safety Code, rather than 
Section 3.01, Article 5547.203, 
V.T.C.S., that provides services to disabled persons; or a 
personal care facility licensed under 
Chapter 247, Health and Safety Code.  Makes conforming changes.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1997.