1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Texas Information and Referral Network providing
1-3 information on health and human services.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Sections 531.0312, 531.0313, and 531.0314 to read
1-7 as follows:
1-8 Sec. 531.0312. TEXAS INFORMATION AND REFERRAL NETWORK. (a)
1-9 The Texas Information and Referral Network at the commission is the
1-10 program responsible for the development, coordination, and
1-11 implementation of a statewide information and referral network that
1-12 integrates existing community-based structures with state and local
1-13 agencies.
1-14 (b) A health and human services agency shall provide the
1-15 Texas Information and Referral Network with information about the
1-16 health and human services provided by the agency for inclusion in
1-17 the statewide information and referral network. The agency shall
1-18 update the information at least quarterly.
1-19 Sec. 531.0313. ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN
1-20 SERVICES REFERRAL INFORMATION. (a) The Texas Information and
1-21 Referral Network may develop an Internet site to provide
1-22 information to the public regarding the health and human services
1-23 provided by public or private entities throughout the state.
1-24 (b) The material in the Texas Information and Referral
2-1 Network Internet site must be geographically indexed and designed
2-2 to inform an individual about the health and human services
2-3 provided in the area where the individual lives. The material must
2-4 be further indexed by type of service provided within each
2-5 geographic area.
2-6 (c) The Internet site may contain links to the Internet
2-7 sites of any local provider of health and human services and may
2-8 contain:
2-9 (1) the name, address, and phone number of
2-10 organizations providing health and human services in a county;
2-11 (2) a description of the type of services provided by
2-12 those organizations; and
2-13 (3) any other information to educate the public about
2-14 the health and human services provided in a county.
2-15 (d) In this section, "Internet" means the largest
2-16 nonproprietary, nonprofit cooperative public computer network,
2-17 popularly known as the Internet.
2-18 Sec. 531.0314. INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM TASK FORCE.
2-19 (a) The commission shall establish a task force to implement the
2-20 statewide information and referral system for health and human
2-21 services and to make recommendations to the commission and other
2-22 agencies providing health and human services.
2-23 (b) The task force shall coordinate the development of state
2-24 and local information and referral network databases.
2-25 (c) The task force must consist of representatives from the
2-26 state's health and human services agencies, the Texas Alliance of
2-27 Information and Referral Services, the United Way, and public and
3-1 private community-based organizations involved in providing
3-2 information and referral for health and human services.
3-3 SECTION 2. (a) The task force established under Section
3-4 531.0314, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall:
3-5 (1) evaluate the use of the Internet and other methods
3-6 of providing access to information and referral services;
3-7 (2) conduct an inventory of all existing information
3-8 and referral systems including toll-free telephone numbers and
3-9 state agencies performing information and referral activities; and
3-10 (3) recommend a strategy for eliminating duplicative
3-11 toll-free telephone numbers.
3-12 (b) The task force shall report its findings and
3-13 recommendations to the Health and Human Services Commission not
3-14 later than March 1, 1998, and the commission and other affected
3-15 agencies shall seek to implement those recommendations, with the
3-16 assistance of the task force, not later than July 1, 1998. The
3-17 task force shall make a follow-up report to the 75th Legislature
3-18 not later than December 1, 1998. That report must include
3-19 recommendations for statutory changes.
3-20 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-25 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-26 passage, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2596 was passed by the House on May
2, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2596 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor