HBA-NLM H.B. 3011 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3011
By: Hochberg
Appropriations
4/19/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The arrangements for the disbursement of funds to the Harris County
Psychiatric Center (center) are not in accordance with the provisions for
other operating units within the University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston.  Currently, funds must be requested by and appropriated to a
state agency that then allocates the funding to another non-state agency.  

H.B. 3011 requires funding for the state-supported facilities and
operations of the center to be provided through legislative appropriations
to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, rather than to
the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and to The
University of Texas System.   In addition, this bill requires a separate
line item entry to be made in the General Appropriations Act at the
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and in the annual
operating budget of the University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston for the center's funding. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 73.404, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(a), as follows: 

(a) Requires funding for the state-supported facilities and operations of
the Harris County Psychiatric Center (center) to be provided through
legislative appropriations to the University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston, rather than to the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation and to The University of Texas System.  Requires a separate
line item entry to be made in the General Appropriations Act at the
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and in the annual
operating budget of the University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston for the center's funding. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 73.405, Education Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the state-supported facilities of the center to provide
patient care, education, and research in accordance with its stated
mission.  Provides that the center will continue to be an integral part of
the public mental health safety net of Harris County.  

(b) Provides that the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
and the center will maintain collaborative working relationships with both
the state and county designated mental health authorities. 

(c) Provides that the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,
through the center, will develop a Community Advisory Committee that will
regularly meet with the leadership of the center. 

(d)-(e) Redesignated from existing Subsections (a)-(b). 
 
(f) Redesignated from existing Subsection (c).  Deletes text authorizing
any lease and/or sublease and operating agreement to provide transfer of
appropriated funds as provided for in Section 73.404. 

(g) Redesignated from existing Subsection (d).  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.