SRC-DPW H.B. 2877 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2877
76R12566 CLG-DBy: Maxey (Ratliff)
State Affairs
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

The Texas Integrated Enrollment and Services (TIES) project is part of the
state's effort to improve the delivery of critical health, human, and
employment services by integrating eligibility and enrollment functions of
many health and human service agencies.  The TIES interagency management
team recommends that temporary service retirement options be considered by
the legislature in order to lessen the impact of staff reductions
associated with the implementation of TIES.  This bill would propose the
colocation of TIES and other state eligibility and enrollment staff with
providers of corresponding health, human, and workforce services. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2877 sets forth guidelines for the lease of certain
facilities and the retirement options and health coverage of certain
employees in connection with implementation of integrated enrollment
services for health and human services programs.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 531B, Government Code, by adding Sections 531.051
and 531.052, as follows: 

Sec. 531.051. LEASES AND SUBLEASES OF CERTAIN OFFICE SPACE.  Authorizes a
health and human services agency, with approval from the Health and Human
Services Commission (commission), or the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC),
or any other state agency that administers employment services programs to
lease office space to a private service entity or sublease office space
from a private service entity that provides publicly funded health, human,
or workforce services to enable agency eligibility and enrollment personnel
to work with the entity if client access to services would be enhanced and
the colocation of offices would improve the efficiency of the
administration and delivery of services.  Provides that Chapters 2165D and
E do not apply to office space leased or sublease by a state agency from a
private service entity.  Provides that Chapter 2167B does not apply to
leases or subleases office space for a private service entity.  Grants a
state agency the authority to enter into a lease or sublease and negotiate
the terms of the lease or sublease.  Authorizes a state agency to share
business resources with a private service entity that enters into a lease
or sublease agreement with the agency, to the extent authorized by federal
law.  

Sec. 531.052. ASSUMPTION OF LEASES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXAS INTEGRATED
ENROLLMENT SERVICES INITIATIVE.   Authorizes a health and human services
agency, with approval from the commission, or TWC, or any other state
agency that administers employment services programs, to assume a lease
from a Texas Integrated Enrollment Services initiative contractor or
subcontractor for certain purposes.  Provides that Chapter 2167B does not
apply to a state agency that assumes a lease from a contractor or
subcontractor under this section. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 814.1041, Government Code, by amending
Subsections  (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (g) to provide that this
section only applies to employees whose positions with the Texas Department
of Health (TDH) are eliminated as a result of contracts with private
service providers.  Provides that the retirement option under this section
is not available to an employee of TDH  or the Texas Department of Human
Services (TDHS) who receives a cash payment under an incentive program by
either agency with respect to certain employees whose positions are
eliminated because of privatization or other reductions (privatization
incentive).  Provides that this Act only applies to positions eliminated by
privatization before September 1, 2003, rather than 1999. 

SECTION 3. Amends Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code., by adding
Section 3B, as follows: 

Sec. 3B. CERTAIN EMPLOYEES MAY ELECT TO PARTICIPATE. Provides that this
section only applies to a person who separates from state service and
receives a cash payment under a privatization incentive.  Entitles a
person, after the effective date of the person's separation from state
service, to receive state contributions required to provide health coverage
for two months as described. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.