By Raymond H.B. No. 734
75R2652 KKA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to development of a statewide consumer guide for senior
1-3 citizens.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 403.026 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 403.026. SENIOR CITIZEN CONSUMER GUIDE; INTERAGENCY
1-8 WORK GROUP. (a) The comptroller shall develop and periodically
1-9 update a statewide consumer guide for senior citizens designed to
1-10 assist senior citizens and their families in making informed
1-11 choices regarding available senior services. The guide must:
1-12 (1) contain a directory of service providers for
1-13 senior citizens, in the format adopted by the Texas Board on Aging
1-14 under Section 101.032, Human Resources Code, and arranged by
1-15 geographical area if appropriate;
1-16 (2) contain comprehensive information on services
1-17 available to senior citizens, including long-term care services,
1-18 housing assistance, meals, personal care, and transportation; and
1-19 (3) enable a senior citizen or other person assisting
1-20 a senior citizen to identify and assess each option available for
1-21 meeting a senior citizen's individual needs.
1-22 (b) An interagency work group is created to assist the
1-23 comptroller in developing and updating the guide. The work group
1-24 is composed of representatives from:
2-1 (1) the comptroller's office, appointed by the
2-2 comptroller;
2-3 (2) the Texas Department on Aging, appointed by the
2-4 executive director of that agency;
2-5 (3) the Texas Department of Human Services, appointed
2-6 by the commissioner of human services;
2-7 (4) the Texas Department of Housing and Community
2-8 Affairs, appointed by the director of that agency; and
2-9 (5) The University of Texas at Austin, appointed by
2-10 the president of the university.
2-11 (c) A member of the work group serves at the will of the
2-12 appointing agency or university.
2-13 (d) The comptroller shall appoint a member of the work group
2-14 to serve as presiding officer, and members of the work group shall
2-15 elect any other necessary officers.
2-16 (e) The work group shall meet at the call of the presiding
2-17 officer.
2-18 (f) The appointing entity is responsible for the expenses of
2-19 a member's service on the work group. A member of the work group
2-20 receives no additional compensation for serving on the work group.
2-21 (g) The work group is not subject to Article 6252-33,
2-22 Revised Statutes.
2-23 (h) The entities listed in Subsections (b)(2)-(5) shall take
2-24 all action necessary to assist the comptroller in developing and
2-25 updating the guide, including providing staff with expertise in
2-26 information and referral services and other necessary resources,
2-27 but may not diminish services required to be provided by other law.
3-1 (i) The Health and Human Services Commission may shift
3-2 resources between health and human services agencies as necessary
3-3 to facilitate the development of the guide.
3-4 (j) The comptroller shall make the guide available to the
3-5 public in print, in electronic format, and through the Internet.
3-6 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 101, Human Resources Code,
3-7 is amended by adding Sections 101.031 and 101.032 to read as
3-8 follows:
3-9 Sec. 101.031. SENIOR CITIZEN CONSUMER GUIDE SUPPORT. The
3-10 board by rule shall require an area agency on aging to specifically
3-11 identify in the agency's area plan the allocation of agency
3-12 resources dedicated to supporting the development and updating of
3-13 the senior citizen consumer guide required by Section 403.026,
3-14 Government Code.
3-15 Sec. 101.032. STANDARD FORMATS FOR SERVICE PROVIDER
3-16 LISTINGS. The board by rule shall adopt standard formats to be
3-17 used in listing service providers in the senior citizen consumer
3-18 guide required by Section 403.026, Government Code.
3-19 SECTION 3. Not later than October 15, 1997, the Texas Board
3-20 on Aging shall adopt the standard formats required by Section
3-21 101.032, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
3-22 SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 1998, the comptroller
3-23 shall complete development of the senior citizen consumer guide
3-24 required by Section 403.026, Government Code, as added by this Act,
3-25 and make the guide available in the manner required by that
3-26 section.
3-27 SECTION 5. Not later than January 15, 1999, the interagency
4-1 work group created under Section 403.026(b), Government Code, as
4-2 added by this Act, shall prepare and deliver to the clerks of the
4-3 standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
4-4 primary jurisdiction over human services a report concerning the
4-5 effectiveness of the senior citizen consumer guide required by
4-6 Section 403.026, Government Code, as added by this Act.
4-7 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
4-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-12 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-13 passage, and it is so enacted.