HBA-DMD C.S.S.B. 369 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 369
By: Zaffirini
Human Services
5/22/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Department of Human Services (department) is primarily
responsible for determining eligibility for and accessability to long-term
care and public assistance benefits.  The agency administers more than 30
state and federally-funded programs designed to help support
selfsufficiency, provide long-term care services, and provide domestic
violence education to low income families and children, persons who are
elderly or disabled, and victims of family violence. 

The department is subject to the Texas Sunset Act and will be abolished on
September 1, 1999, unless continued by the legislature. After its review of
the department, the Sunset Advisory Commission recommended continuation and
several statutory modifications. 

C.S.S.B. 369 changes the department's expiration date from September 1,
1999, to September 1, 2011.  This bill modifies the composition of the
Texas Board of Human Services (board). This bill also requires the
commissioner of human services (commissioner) and the administrator of each
local administrative unit of the department to enter into a regional
performance agreement that includes goals, objectives, and performance
criteria. In addition, this bill requires the department to develop and
implement a system of contracting with providers for the delivery of
department community care services. C.S.S.B. 369 requires the department to
assist a recipient of financial assistance in assessing the needs of the
recipient and the recipient's family that, if addressed, would help the
recipient and the recipient's family to attain and retain the capability of
independence and self-care. This bill also requires the department to
inform an applicant for medical assistance seeking nursing facility care of
any community care services that may be available to the applicant as an
alternative to nursing facility care. It requires the department to compile
and periodically update regulatory and service quality information
regarding nursing facilities for review by the public. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Human Services
in  SECTIONS 5, 13, and 14 (Sections 22.0071, 32.0212, and 32.0251, Human
Resources Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.002, Human Resources Code, to provide that the
Texas Department of Human Services (department) is abolished and this title
excluding any chapter that relates to a state agency other than the
department expires September 1, 2011, rather than 1999, unless continued in
existence.  Deletes the provision providing for the expiration of Chapter
40 (Department of Protective and Regulatory Services; Child Welfare and
Protective Services), Human Resources Code. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 21.003(b) and (d), Human Resources Code, to
provide that the composition of the Texas Board of Human Services (board)
must include one licensed physician with expertise in geriatrics, one other
health care professional who is licensed, certified, or regulated by a
health care regulatory agency, and a third member must be a consumer
advocate who represents the interests of the population served by the
department. Requires the governor to designate a board member as the
presiding officer of the board to serve in that capacity at the will of the
governor. Deletes the requirement for the board to elect a presiding
officer. 
 
SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 21, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
21.0033, to set forth standard Sunset language regarding board member
training. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Chapter 21, Human Resource Code, by adding Section
21.0061, as follows: 

Sec. 21.0061. REGIONAL PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE
UNITS. (a) Requires the commissioner of human services (commissioner) and
the administrator of each local administrative unit of the department to
enter into a regional performance agreement that includes goals,
objectives, and performance criteria established by the commissioner under
Subsection (b) for the unit.   

(b) Requires the commissioner to establish and biennially update goals,
objectives, and performance criteria for each local administrative unit of
the department. Sets provisions that must be included in the goals,
objectives, and performance criteria. 

(c) Specifies requirements for the commissioner when developing the goals,
objectives, and performance criteria under Subsection (b). 

(d)  Requires the commissioner to assess the performance of each local
administrative unit based on the goals, objectives, and performance
criteria in the regional performance agreement between the commissioner and
the administrator of that unit. Requires the commissioner to include the
results of each assessment in the report on the operation and
administration of the department required under Section 21.011 (Reports),
Human Resources Code.  

(e) Requires the commissioner to consider the goals, objectives. and
performance criteria in each regional performance agreement and the
performance of each local administrative unit based on those standards when
evaluating and establishing regional funding allocations. 

(f)  Requires the department to inform health and human services agencies
and the general public in each region of the contents of the performance
agreement for that region. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Chapter 22, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
22.0071, as follows: 

Sec. 22.0071. CONTRACTS FOR COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES. (a) Requires the
department, by rule, to develop and implement a system of contracting with
providers for the delivery of department community care services. Provides
that the system must be designed to give providers equal and periodic
opportunities to contract with the department and ensure competition among
providers.  

(b) Requires the department, when developing the system, to ensure that a
sufficient number of easily accessible, quality direct care providers are
available to: 

(1) provide access to services;
(2) ensure adequate choice of providers;
(3) ensure competition among providers;
(4) ensure quality of care for recipients of community care services; and
(5) meet the demand for services.

(c) Specifies provisions that must be included in a contract for the
delivery of community care services under a department program.  

(d) Requires the department to monitor a community care provider's
performance under a contract for the delivery of community care services.
Specifies requirements for the department when monitoring the performance.  

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 22.018, Human Resources Code, as follows:

 Sec. 22.018.  New title: COOPERATION WITH STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE
HEARINGS. (a) Requires the department and the chief administrative law
judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings to adopt a memorandum
of understanding under which the State Office of Administrative Hearings
conducts all contested case hearings authorized or required by law to be
conducted by the department under the administrative procedure law, Chapter
2001 (Administrative Procedure), Government Code. Deletes text requiring
the department to establish and maintain a hearings division to administer
each hearing.  

(b) Requires the memorandum of understanding to require the chief
administrative law judge, the department, and the commissioner to cooperate
in connection with a contested case hearing and authorizes the memorandum
of understanding to authorize the State Office of Administrative Hearings
to perform any administrative act, including giving of notice, that is
required to be performed by the department or commissioner. Deletes text
providing that neither the department nor the department's legal division
may directly or indirectly influence a decision or the decision-making
process of the hearings division. 

(c) Requires the memorandum of understanding to address whether the
administrative law judge who conducts a contested case hearing for the
State Office of Administrative Hearings on behalf of the department is
required to enter the final decision in the case after completion of the
hearing or propose a decision to the department or the commissioner for
final consideration. 

(d) Requires the department by interagency contract to reimburse the State
Office of Administrative Hearings for the costs incurred in conducting
contested case hearings for the department. Authorizes the department to
pay an hourly fee for the costs of conducting those hearings or a fixed
annual fee negotiated biennially by the department and the State Office of
Administrative Hearings to coincide with the department's legislative
appropriations request. 

(e) Provides that a reference in law to the hearings division of the
department is considered to be a reference to the State Office of
Administrative Hearings when used in relation to a contested case hearing
under the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001, Government Code. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 31.0032, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (d), to require the department to give the highest priority to
the administrative processing of sanctions or penalties under this section
so that the department's records of the affected person promptly reflect
application of the sanctions or penalties. 

SECTION 8.  Amends the heading to Section 31.0095, Human Resources Code, as
follows: 

Sec. 31.0095.  New title: EMPLOYABILITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

SECTION 9.  Amends the heading to Section 31.010, Human Resources Code, as
follows: 

Sec. 31.010.  New title:  SUPPORT SERVICES RELATED TO EMPLOYABILITY OF A
RECIPIENT. 
  
SECTION 10.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 31.011, as follows: 

Sec. 31.011. PERSONAL AND FAMILIAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
(a) Requires the department to assist a recipient of financial assistance
in assessing the needs, other than employability needs assessed under
Section 31.0095, of the recipient and the recipient's family that, if
addressed, would help the recipient and the recipient's family to attain
and retain the capability of independence and self-care. 

(b) Requires the department, based on the needs assessment under this
section, to refer the recipient and the recipient's family to appropriate
preventive and support services provided  by the department or any other
public or private entity. Specifies the preventive and support services to
which the department is authorized to refer a recipient and a recipient's
family under this section. 

SECTION 11.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 31.0127, as follows: 

Sec. 31.0127. COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR RECIPIENTS OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE. (a) Provides that in order to ensure efficient delivery of
appropriate programs and services, the Health and Human Services Commission
(commission) is the state agency designated to coordinate between the
department and a state agency providing child care services, Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families work programs, and Food Stamp Employment and
Training services to an individual or family who has been referred for
programs and services by the department. 

(b) Requires the commission to require a state agency that is providing
programs and services subject to coordination under Subsection (a) to
comply with Chapter 531 (Health and Human Services Commission), Government
Code, with regard to planning for the coordinated delivery of programs and
services, rulemaking, expenditure of funds, data collection and reporting,
and evaluations with regard to those programs and services. 

(c) Requires the commission and a state agency that is providing programs
and services subject to coordination under Subsection (a), not later than
October 1, 1999, to jointly develop and adopt a memorandum of understanding
outlining measures to be taken to increase the number of recipients of
financial assistance who use the Job Training Partnership Act program or
its successor program. 

(d) Requires the commission, by January 15 of each odd-numbered year, to
provide a report containing specified information to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. 

(e) Provides that if the change in law made by this section with regard to
any program or service conflicts with federal law or would have the effect
of invalidating an exemption granted under federal law, the state agency is
not required to comply with this section with regard to that program or
service. 

(f) Sets forth that this section does not authorize the commission to
change the allocation or disbursement of funds allocated to the state under
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) in a
manner that would result in the loss of exemption status. 

SECTION 12.  Amends Section 31.0321, Human Resources Code, as added by
Chapter 1442, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, by
amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections (f) and (g), as
follows: 

(d) Requires the department, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Title IV-D
agency, and each local workforce development board and board subcontractor
to provide at least four hours of annual training regarding family violence
issuance to certain specified employees. 

(e) Specifies the information that the training required by Subsection (d)
must include. 

(f) Redesignated from Subsection (d).

(g) Redesignated from Subsection (e).

SECTION 13.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 32.0212, as follows: 

 Sec. 32.0212. CONTRACTS FOR NURSING FACILITY CARE; QUALITY ASSESSMENT.
Requires the department, by rule, to develop minimum contract performance
standards for a nursing facility that contracts with the department for the
delivery of medical assistance. Requires the department, when developing
the minimum performance standards, to use all appropriate performance data
collected by the department or another agency. 

(b) Provides that a contract with the department for the delivery of
medical assistance by a nursing facility must include the performance
standards developed under Subsection (a). 

(c) Requires the department, by rule, to develop and implement a quality
assessment process to evaluate the performance of a nursing facility that
contracts with the department for the delivery of medical assistance.
Requires the department, when developing the process, to use all
appropriate performance data collected by the department or any other
agency. 

(d) Requires the department to promptly address a nursing facility's
failure to meet minimum performance standards, if necessary, by imposing
penalties and sanctions, including termination of the facility's contract,
as authorized under the contract or as provided by law. 

SECTION 14.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 32.0251, as follows: 

Sec. 32.0251. COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. (a)
Requires the department to inform an applicant for medical assistance
seeking nursing facility care of any community care services that may be
available to the applicant as an alternative to nursing facility care. 

(b) Requires the department, by rule, to develop and implement a process of
presumptive eligibility determination for appropriate elderly or disabled
applicants for community care services. 

(c) Requires the department to design a plan of care for an applicant for
community care services based on the needs of the applicant identified by
the department. Requires the plan of care to be adjusted promptly as
necessary based on any change in the applicant's physical condition or need
for services, whether identified by the department during a periodic
reassessment of the applicant's condition or at any other time. 

(d) Requires the department to maintain a waiting list for the services, if
community care services are not readily available for an elderly or
disabled applicant because of a high demand for services.  Requires the
department to collect from each applicant who is placed on the waiting list
appropriate information to facilitate contacting the applicant when the
services become available and to allow efficient enrollment of the
applicant in those services. Specifies the provisions that must be included
in the information collected by the department from an applicant. 

SECTION 15.  Amends Section 33.024, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsections (k)-(m), as follows: 

(k) Requires the department to develop and implement an outreach program in
order to increase participation in the summer program if funds are
appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose. Specifies the
purposes for which the department is required to design the outreach
program. 

(l) Provides that the outreach program required by Subsection (k) must
target communities and schools that have the highest percentage of eligible
children. Specifies the provisions that must be included in the outreach
program. 

(m) Requires the department to administer a grant program designed to
encourage eligible  organizations to serve as local sponsors or meal
preparation sites for the summer program by awarding a financial supplement
for each meal served from funds appropriated or otherwise made available
for that purpose. 

SECTION 16.  Amends Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
33.026, as follows: 

Sec. 33.026. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM; REQUIRED NOTICES AND
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. (a) Requires the department, before adopting
or changing a department rule or policy relating to the federal Child and
Adult Care Food Program, to submit the proposed action to the department's
advisory committee on that program for comment, unless immediate action is
required by federal law, in which case the department is required to submit
the action for comment at the earliest possible date. 

(b) Requires the department to provide written notice to each sponsoring
organization of any modification or clarification of department rules or
policies relating to the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Provides that notice provided through electronic mail is considered to be
written notice for the purposes of this subsection.  

(c) Specifies the authority of the department's advisory committee on the
federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. 

SECTION 17.  Amends Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
33.027, as follows: 

Sec. 33.027. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM; ELECTRONIC FILING. (a)
Requires the department, when administering the federal Child and Adult
Care Food Program, to permit a sponsoring organization or other person
participating in the program to submit applications and other required
information to the department in an electronic format or through the use of
electronically produced forms, unless prohibited by federal law. 

(b) Authorizes the department to implement Subsection (a) by developing
necessary computer systems or by using computer systems developed or made
available for that purpose by a sponsoring organization or other
appropriate person. 

SECTION 18.  Amends the chapter heading to Chapter 51, Human Resources
Code, to read as follows: 
CHAPTER 51.  New heading: FAMILY VIOLENCE CENTERS

SECTION 19.  Amends Section 51.002, Human Resources Code, to define "family
violence center," "family violence residential center" and "family
violence," to modify the definition of "family violence shelter center" and
to delete the definition of "victim of family violence." 

SECTION 20. Amends Section 51.003, Human Resources Code, to authorize the
department to contract for, rather than to authorize the contract to
require, the provision of public education, consultation to the department,
research, evaluation, and liaison and training for other professionals who
work with victims of family violence, including professionals in the
criminal justice, medical, and social services fields, and for community or
civic groups. Requires the department to award all contracts through a
competitive bidding process unless that process would not be
cost-effective. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 21.  Amends Section 51.004, Human Resources Code, to specify the
conditions under which a family violence center, rather than a public or
private nonprofit organization, may be eligible for a contract with the
department. Specifies the conditions under which a family violence
nonresidential center is eligible for a contract under Section 51.003(a).
Requires the department, upon determining that a family violence
nonresidential center provides services that would not be otherwise
available in the service area, to include the family violence
nonresidential center in the noncompetitive procurement procedure.
Redesignates existing Subsection (c) to Subsection (d).  Makes conforming
and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 22.  Amends Section 51.005, Human Resources Code, to make
conforming changes.  
 
SECTION 23.  Amends Section 51.006, Human Resources Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 24.  Amends Section 51.007, Human Resources Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 25.  Amends Chapter 51, Human Resources Code, by adding Section
51.012, as follows: 

Sec. 51.012. COORDINATION OF SERVICES. Requires the department and the
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to coordinate the
provision of violence prevention services for children and youth.  

SECTION 26.  Amends Section 242.309, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Section 1.01, Chapter 1280, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
1997 (effective until federal determination of failure to comply with
federal regulations), as follows: 

Sec. 242.309. PROVISIONAL LICENSE. (a)  Requires the board to issue a
provisional license to an applicant currently licensed in another
jurisdiction who seeks a license in this state and who meets specified
requirements. Deletes text requiring the department to grant a provisional
license under this subchapter. Modifies the requirements for an applicant
who is seeking a provisional license to conform to the addition of an
applicant licensed in another jurisdiction. Makes conforming and
nonsubstantive changes. 

(b) Authorizes the board to waive, rather than authorizes an applicant to
be excused from, the requirement of Subsection (a) for an applicant if the
board, rather than department, determines that compliance with that
subsection would be a hardship to the applicant. Makes nonsubstantive
changes. 

(c) Requires the board to issue a license under this subchapter to the
provisional license holder if the provisional license holder is eligible to
be licensed under Section 242.306, (Examination), Health and Safety Code,
rather than if the holder passes the examination required by 242.306(c)
(License Application; Qualifications), or the provisional license holder
passes the part of the examination under Section 242.307 that relates to
the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the laws and rules relating
to the practice of nursing facility administration in this state. Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(d) Provides that the board must approve or deny, rather than requires the
department to complete the processing of, a provisional license holder's
application for a license no later than 180 days after the date the
provisional license is issued. Authorizes the board, rather than the
department, to extend the 180-day period if the results of an examination
have not been received by the board before the end of that period. Deletes
text authorizing the board to extend this time in order to receive the
results of a national examination or other examination administered or
graded by an outside organization recognized by the department. 

(e) Authorizes the board to establish a fee for provisional licenses in an
amount reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of issuing the license. 

SECTION 27.  Amends Section 242.310, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Section 1.01, Chapter 1280, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
1997 (effective until federal determination of failure to comply with
federal regulations), as follows: 

Sec. 242.310. LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) Prohibits a person whose license has
expired from engaging in activities that require a license until the
license has been renewed. Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

(b) Authorizes a person whose license has been expired for 90 days or less
to renew the license by paying to the department a renewal fee that is
equal to one and a half times, rather than one-half, the normally required
renewal fee. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.  

 (c) Authorizes a person whose license has been expired for more than 90
days but less than one year to renew the license by paying to the
department a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required
renewal fee, rather than all unpaid renewal fees and a fee that is equal to
the examination fee for the license. 

(d) Authorizes a person whose license has been expired for one year or more
to obtain a new license by complying with the requirements and procedures,
including the examination requirements, for obtaining an original license. 

(e) Provides that a person licensed in this state, who moved to another
state, and has been licensed and practicing in the other state for at least
two years must pay to the department a fee that is equal to two times the
normally required renewal fee for the license, rather than must pay the
examination fee. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(f) Requires the department, no later than 31 days, rather than at least 30
days, before the date a person's license is scheduled to expire, to send
written notice of the impending expiration to the person at the person's
last known address according to the records of the department. Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 28.  Amends Section 242.314, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Section 2.01, Chapter 1280, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
1997 (effective upon federal determination of failure to comply with
federal regulations), as follows: 

Sec. 242.314. PROVISIONAL LICENSE. (a) Requires the board to issue a
provisional license to an applicant currently licensed in another
jurisdiction who seeks a license in this state and who meets specified
requirements. Deletes text requiring the department to grant a provisional
license under this subchapter. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(b) Authorizes the board to waive, rather than authorizes an applicant to
be excused from, the requirement of Subsection (a) for an applicant if the
board, rather than department, determines that compliance with that
subsection would be a hardship to the applicant. Makes nonsubstantive
changes. 

(c) Requires the board to issue a license under this subchapter to the
provisional license holder if the provisional license holder is eligible to
be licensed under Section 242.311, rather than if the holder passes the
examination required by242.311(c), or the provisional license holder passes
the part of the examination under Section 242.312 that relates to the
applicant's knowledge and understanding of the laws and rules relating to
the practice of nursing facility administration in this state. Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(d) Provides that the board must approve or deny, rather than requires the
board to complete the processing of, a provisional license holder's
application for a license no later than 180 days after the date the
provisional license is issued. Authorizes the board to extend the 180-day
period if the results of an examination have not been received by the board
before the end of that period. Deletes text authorizing the board to extend
this time in order to receive the results of a national examination or
other examination administered or graded by an outside organization
recognized by the board. 

(e) Authorizes the board to establish a fee for provisional licenses in an
amount reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of issuing the license. 

SECTION 29.  Amends Section 242.315, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Section 2.01, Chapter 1280, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
1997 (effective upon federal determination of failure to comply with
federal regulations), as follows: 

Sec. 242.315. LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) Prohibits a person whose license has
expired from engaging in activities that require a license until the
license has been renewed. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.  

 (b) Authorizes a person whose license has been expired for 90 days or less
to renew the license by paying to the board a renewal fee that is equal to
one and a half times the normally required fee, rather than a renewal fee
and a fee that is one-half of the examination fee for the license. Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes.  

(c) Authorizes a person whose license has been expired for more than 90
days but less than one year to renew the license by paying to the board a
renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee,
rather than all unpaid fees and a fee that is equal to the examination fee
for the license. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.  

(d) Authorizes a person whose license has been expired for one year or more
to obtain a new license by complying with the requirements and procedures,
including the examination requirements, for obtaining an original license.
Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.  

(e) Provides that a person licensed in this state, who moved to another
state, and has been licensed and practicing in the other state for at least
two years must pay to the department a fee that is equal to two times the
normally required renewal fee for the license, rather than must pay the
examination fee. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

(f) Requires the department, no later than 31 days, rather than at least 30
days, before the date a person's license is scheduled to expire, to send
written notice of the impending expiration to the person at the person's
last known address according to the records of the department. Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 30.  Amends Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter Q, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER Q.  PUBLIC ACCESS TO QUALITY
 OF SERVICE INFORMATION

Sec. 242.901. COMPILATION OF QUALITY OF SERVICE INFORMATION. (a) Requires
the department to compile and periodically update regulatory and service
quality information regarding nursing facilities licensed under this
chapter for review by the public.  Requires the department to consult with
nursing facility residents, their families, nursing facility providers, and
advocacy groups in determining the types of information to compile.
Provides that this subsection applies only to regulatory and service
quality information that is public information subject to public disclosure
under Chapter 552 (Public Information), Government Code. 

(b) Requires the department to compile the compilation required under
Subsection (a) in a format that is readily accessible to and understandable
by a member of the general public. 

(c) Specifies additional information compiled under Subsection (a) that
must be included for public benefit. 

(d) Provides that the cost incurred by a nursing facility in maintaining
and reporting regulatory and service quality information required under
this section is an allowable cost for reimbursement under the state
Medicaid program. 

Sec. 242.902. ACCESS TO QUALITY OF SERVICE INFORMATION.  Requires the
department to provides access to the information compiled under Section
242.901 through a toll-free line and the Internet, or other electronic
means. 

SECTION 31.  Amends Section 30.05(b)(3), Penal Code, to modify the
definition of "shelter center."  
SECTION 32.  Repealer:  Section 32.025(c) (Application for Medical
Assistance), Human Resources Code, relating to informing clients of
community care services of other available services. 

SECTION 33.  Makes application of this Act prospective, as it applies to
the qualifications for a license issued by the department. 

 SECTION 34.  (a)  Provides that the changes in law made by this Act to the
qualifications of and the prohibitions applying to members of the board do
not affect the entitlement of a member serving on the board immediately
before September 1, 1999, to continue to carry out the functions of the
board for the remainder of the member's term.  Provides that the changes in
law apply only to a member appointed on or after September 1, 1999.
Provides that this Act does not prohibit a person who is a member of the
board on September 1, 1999, from being reappointed to the board if the
person has the qualifications required for membership under Section 21.003,
Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act. 

(b) Requires the governor, when filling the first two vacancies on the
board that occur after the effective date of this Act, to ensure that the
composition of the board after those vacancies are filled complies with the
requirements of Subsection (b), Section 21.003, Human Resources Code, as
amended by this Act. 

SECTION 35.  (a) Requires the department, no later than January 1, 2000, to
develop and implement the system required by Section 22.0071(a), Human
Resources Code, as added by this Act.  

(b) Requires the department, no later than May 1, 2000, to implement the
system required by Section 22.0071(a), Human Resources Code, as added by
this Act. 

(c) Makes application of this Act prospective, as it applies to a contract.

SECTION 36.  (a)  Makes application of this Act prospective, as it applies
to a contested case hearing conducted by the State Office of Administrative
Hearings on behalf of the Texas Department of Human Services, on January 1,
2000. 

(b) Authorizes the commissioner and the chief administrative law judge of
the State Office of Administrative Hearings to agree to transfer contested
cases pending before the department to the State Office of Administrative
Hearings before January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 37.  Makes application of Section 32.0212, Human Resources Code, as
added by this Act, prospective. 

SECTION 38. Provides that if, before implementing any provision of this
Act, a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the
agency affected by the provision is required to request the waiver or
authorization and the agency is authorized to delay implementing that
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 39.Effective date: September 1, 1999, except that SECTION 17 of
this Act takes effect January 1, 2001. 

SECTION 40.Emergency clause.       

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

This substitute further amends Section 21.003(b), Human Resources Code, in
SECTION 2, to include the provision that one member of the Board of Human
Services (board) must be a consumer advocate who represents the interests
of the population served by the Texas Department of Human Services
(department).   

This substitute modifies proposed Section 22.0071, Human Resources Code, in
SECTION 5, to require the department, by rule, to develop and implement a
system of contracting with providers for the delivery of department
community care services, rather than to develop and implement a system to
limit the number of direct providers of department community care services.
This substitute provides that the system must be designed to give providers
equal and periodic opportunities to contract with the department and ensure
competition among providers.  

This substitute redesignates a portion of text from proposed Subsection (a)
in the original to  proposed Subsection (b), to require the department,
when developing the system required by Subsection (a), to ensure that a
sufficient number of easily accessible, quality direct care providers,
rather than a sufficient number of direct providers, are available for
certain purposes that are also modified in the substitute. For further
explanation, refer to the Sectionby-Section Analysis. 

This substitute redesignates proposed Subsections (b) and (c) of the
original bill to proposed Subsections (c) and (d) of the substitute,
respectively. 

This substitute changes the title of Section 31.0127, Human Resources Code,
in SECTION 11, from "Coordination of Services to TANF Clients" in the
original bill to "Coordination of Services For Recipients of Financial
Assistance." This substitute makes changes to conform to the changes in the
title.  

This substitute redesignates SECTIONS 12 and 13 of the original bill to
SECTIONS 13 and 14 of the substitute, SECTION 14 of the original bill to
SECTION 18 of the substitute, SECTIONS 15-21 of the original bill to
SECTIONS 19-25 of the substitute, and SECTIONS 23-37 of the original to
SECTIONS 26-40 of the substitute. 

This substitute amends Section 31.0321, Human Resources Code, as added by
Chapter 1442, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, in new
SECTION 12. For further explanation, refer to the Section-by-Section
Analysis. This section was not addressed in the original bill.   

This substitute modifies proposed Section 32.0251(d), Human Resources Code,
in SECTION 14, to provide that at a minimum, the information collected by
the department from an applicant must include the applicant's name,
address, and telephone number; the name, address, and telephone number of a
designated contact person for the applicant; the date of application for
community care services; the type and degree of care required by the
applicant; and the date the applicant is scheduled for reassessment by the
department. 

This substitute amends Section 33.024, Human Resources Code, in SECTION 15.
For further explanation, refer to the Section-by-Section Analysis. This
section was not addressed in the original bill.  

This substitute adds new Section 33.026, Human Resources Code, in SECTION
16. For further explanation, refer to the Section-by-Section Analysis. 

This substitute adds new Section 33.027, Human Resources Code, in SECTION
17. For further explanation, refer to the Section-by-Section Analysis. 

This substitute removes SECTION 22, of the original (proposed Section
242.0611, Health and Safety Code) which required the department to develop
criteria, published in rules, regarding circumstances that trigger the
imposition of each of the remedies available to the department.  

This substitute modifies SECTION 35, by adding new text for Subsection (b)
and redesignating Subsection (b) from the original bill to Subsection (c)
of the substitute. Subsection (b) of the substitute requires the
department, no later than May 1, 2000, to implement the system required by
Section 22.0071(a), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. 

This substitute modifies SECTION 39 to include the specification that
SECTION 17 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2001.