1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to requiring the Department of Human Services to conduct

 1-3     evaluations to improve its programs.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 22, Human Resources Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Section 22.0015 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 22.0015.  EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PROGRAMS.  The

 1-8     department shall conduct research, analysis, and reporting of its

 1-9     programs to evaluate and improve the programs.  The department may

1-10     contract with one or more independent entities to assist the

1-11     department with the research, analysis, and reporting required by

1-12     this section.

1-13           SECTION 2.  Not later than January 15, 1999, January 15,

1-14     2001, and January 15, 2003, the Texas Department of Human Services

1-15     shall report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and speaker

1-16     of the house of representatives regarding the department's success

1-17     in evaluating and improving its programs, as required by Section

1-18     22.0015, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.  The

1-19     department shall notify members of the legislature and the standing

1-20     committees of the senate and house of representatives having

1-21     primary jurisdiction over the department of the filing of each

1-22     report.  Each report must:

1-23                 (1)  for each evaluation contract entered into under

 2-1     Section 22.0015, Human Resources Code, during the period covered by

 2-2     the report, identify:

 2-3                       (A)  the beginning and ending dates, the

 2-4     authorized amount, and the purpose of the contract; and

 2-5                       (B)  the identity of the contractor; and

 2-6                 (2)  indicate the titles of major evaluation reports

 2-7     completed by the department and its contractors during the period

 2-8     covered by the report, including reports concerning state and

 2-9     federal welfare reform.

2-10           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-11           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2126 was passed by the House on April

         11, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2126 on May 14, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2126 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 12, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor