1-1     By:  Junell, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ratliff)        H.B. No. 2777

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 1997;

 1-3     May 5, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health

 1-4     and Human Services; May 17, 1997, reported adversely, with

 1-5     favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays

 1-6     0; May 17, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2777                By:  Moncrief

 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-9                                   AN ACT

1-10     relating to the eligibility determination and service delivery by

1-11     health and human service agencies, the Texas Workforce Commission

1-12     and other agencies.

1-13           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-14           SECTION 1.  Sections 9.12(a), (b) and (d), Chapter 655, Acts

1-15     of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, are amended to read

1-16     as follows:

1-17           (a)  [Not later than September 1, 1996, the Health and Human

1-18     Services Commission, subject to the availability of funds to the

1-19     commission and to health and human services agencies, shall have

1-20     completed the development and substantial implementation of a plan

1-21     for an integrated eligibility determination and service delivery

1-22     system for health and human services at the local and regional

1-23     levels.]  In consultation and coordination with the Legislative

1-24     Budget Board as to the expenditure of appropriated funds, the

1-25     Health and Human Services Commission shall, subject to the approval

1-26     of the Governor, develop and implement a plan for the integration

1-27     of services and functions relating to eligibility determination and

1-28     service delivery by health and human services agencies, the Texas

1-29     Workforce Commission, and other agencies.  The plan shall [specify

1-30     the dates by which all elements of the plan must be implemented]

1-31     include a reengineering of eligibility determination business

1-32     processes, streamlined service delivery, a unified and integrated

1-33     process for the transition from welfare to work, and improved

1-34     access to benefits and services for clients.  In developing and

1-35     implementing the plan, the commission may contract for appropriate

1-36     professional and technical assistance, and shall also consult with

1-37     agencies whose programs are included in the plan, including the

1-38     Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Department of Health,

1-39     and the Texas Workforce Commission.  In developing and implementing

1-40     the plan, the commission may utilize the staff and resources of

1-41     agencies whose programs are included in the plan.  If requested by

1-42     the commission, such agencies shall cooperate with the commission

1-43     to provide available staff and resources that will be subject to

1-44     the direction of the commission.

1-45           (b)  The integrated eligibility determination and service

1-46     delivery system shall be developed and implemented to achieve [at

1-47     least a one percent] savings in the cost of providing

1-48     administrative and other services and staff resulting from

1-49     streamlining and eliminating duplication of services.  The

1-50     commission may [shall] use the resulting savings, subject to any

1-51     spending limitation in the General Appropriations Act, to further

1-52     develop the integrated system and to provide other health and human

1-53     services.

1-54           (d)  [In consultation and coordination with the State Council

1-55     on Competitive Government, the commission shall make and implement

1-56     recommendations on services or functions of the integrated

1-57     eligibility determination and service delivery system that could be

1-58     provided more effectively through the use of competitive bidding or

1-59     by contracting with local governments and other appropriate

1-60     entities.  If the commission determines that private contracting

1-61     may be effective,] Upon receipt by the state of any necessary

1-62     federal approval, the commission may, subject to approval of the

1-63     Legislative Budget Board and Governor, contract for implementation

1-64     of the plan or parts of the plan, if the commission determines that

 2-1     contracting may advance the objectives of subsections (a) and (b)

 2-2     [automate the determination of client eligibility by contracting

 2-3     with a private firm to conduct application processing].  The

 2-4     design, development, and operation of an automated data processing

 2-5     system to support the plan may be financed through the issuance of

 2-6     bonds or other obligations pursuant to Article 601d, V.A.C.S.

 2-7           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-8     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-9     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-10     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-11     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-12     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-13     passage, and it is so enacted.

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