SRC-AXB S.B. 380 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 380
76R3756  SMJ-DBy: Zaffirini
Human Services
2/10/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Department of Human Services can require the attorney
general to conduct a suit to collect penalties against intermediate care
facilities for the mentally retarded.  This bill would change the
responsibility of bringing a suit against such facilities from being an
action required by the attorney general, to being an action the attorney
general is authorized to perform. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 380 revises the attorney general's role in bringing a
suit against an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded from
being required to conduct a suit, to being authorized to institute an
action. 

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 Section 252.064(c), Health and Safety Code, to
authorize, rather than require, the attorney general to institute an action
in a district court to collect a civil penalty regarding care facilities
for the mentally retarded.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage