SRC-CDH C.S.S.B. 1403 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1403
By: Moncrief
Health & Human Services
4-18-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

As of 1994, there were over 51,000 legally blind Texans over the age of
40, and each year more than 4,000 Texans become legally blind.  Almost
half these cases could be prevented with proper intervention.  Many
conditions which could be controlled with medication or surgery go
untreated because of lack of insurance or other means to pay for the
treatment.  The Texas Commission for the Blind can only serve these
individuals after they become blind.  According to the U.S. Department of
Labor, approximately 70 percent of legally blind people are either
underemployed or unemployed, with the vast majority dependent upon public
assistance.  This legislation establishes a blindness education,
screening, and treatment program in order to prevent many Texans from
losing their sight and their ability to remain independent.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1403 establishes and funds a blindness education,
screening, and treatment program.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Commission for the Blind in
SECTION 1 (Section 91.027(e), Human Resources Code) of this bill.   

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, as follows:

Sec. 91.027.  New heading:  BLINDNESS EDUCATION, SCREENING, AND TREATMENT
PROGRAM.  Requires the Texas Commission for the Blind (commission) to
develop a Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program  to
provide blindness prevention education, screening, and treatment to
prevent blindness for residents who are not covered under an adequate
health benefit plan.  Requires the program to include certain services
related to public education, screenings and eye examinations, and
treatment procedures.  Requires the commission, by rule, to prescribe
eligibility requirements for the program.  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (f), to require the Department of Public Safety to collect an
additional fee of $1 for the issuance or renewal of a license to fund the
program.  

SECTION 3. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
  

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, to alter the terms by which
the program  is required to provide certain services related to public
education, screenings and examinations, and treatment procedures.  Deletes
existing text regarding a blindness education, screening, and treatment
account.  Deletes the provision requiring the commission to implement the
program by a certain date, and making the subsection expire on a certain
date.  Reinstates the requirement that the commission take measures it
considers advisable to prevent blindness and conserve eyesight.   

SECTION 2.

Deletes existing text regarding the forwarding of money collected to the
comptroller.