By Maxey                                         H.B. No. 690

      75R2660 SKB-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to electronic assistance provided by the Health and Human

 1-3     Services Commission.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 531.013 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 531.013.  ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF TECHNICAL

 1-8     ASSISTANCE.  (a)   The commission shall develop with the Department

 1-9     of Information Resources an Internet site to provide assistance for

1-10     human services providers.  The department may provide access to the

1-11     same or a similar site on any other widely used computer or

1-12     telecommunications network or service.

1-13           (b)  The Internet site may include information in the

1-14     following subjects:

1-15                 (1)  case management;

1-16                 (2)  contract management;

1-17                 (3)  financial management;

1-18                 (4)  performance measurement and evaluation;

1-19                 (5)  research; and

1-20                 (6)  other matters the commission considers

1-21     appropriate.

1-22           (c)  The commission shall file a report on the Internet site

1-23     with the commissioner and the heads of the health and human

1-24     services agencies not later than September 1, 1998.  This

 2-1     subsection expires January 1, 1999.

 2-2           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.