AN ACT

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

 1-2     Services Commission.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 531.013 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 531.013.  ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF TECHNICAL

 1-7     ASSISTANCE.  (a)  Health and human services agencies shall, in

 1-8     conjunction with the Department of Information Resources,

 1-9     coordinate and enhance their existing Internet sites to provide

1-10     technical assistance for human services providers.  The commission

1-11     shall take the lead and ensure involvement of agencies with the

1-12     greatest potential for cost savings.

1-13           (b)  Assistance under this section may include information in

1-14     the 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)  Assistance under this section must include information

1-23     on the impact of federal and state welfare reform changes on human

 2-1     services providers.

 2-2           (d)  Assistance under this section may not include any

 2-3     confidential information regarding a client of a human services

 2-4     provider.

 2-5           (e)  The commission and health and human services agencies

 2-6     shall file a report regarding the cost-effectiveness of using the

 2-7     Internet to coordinate and enhance technical assistance for human

 2-8     services providers with the governor, the lieutenant governor, the

 2-9     speaker of the house of representatives, and the House Committee on

2-10     Human Services not later than September 1, 1998.  This subsection

2-11     expires January 1, 1999.

2-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

                                                                S.B. No. 290

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 290 passed the Senate on

         February 26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0; and

         that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 6, 1997, by a

         viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 290 passed the House, with

         amendment, on May 2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor