SRC-DPW S.B. 1234 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1234
76R7328 JJT-DBy: Nelson
Human Services
3/29/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the comptroller, according to the Texas Performance Review,
recommends that state law should be amended to increase local control of
spending for children's mental health services.  The Health and Human
Services Commission (HHSC) estimates that two-thirds of Texas children with
severe emotional and behavioral problems do not receive the appropriate and
comprehensive help they need.  This is due in part to the fact that such
children often need a variety of services, yet services are fragmented
among a number of different agencies, programs, and funding sources, each
with different regulations and eligibility requirements.  This bill would
create a mechanism to allow the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative to
award grants to community based projects for mental health services, and
allow the HHSC to establish awards criteria and an evaluation system in
order to facilitate more grants being awarded at the local level. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1234 requires the expansion and funding of the Texas
Integrated Funding Initiative of the Health and Human Services Commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to Health and Human Services Commission in
SECTION 1 (Chapter 531, Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Subchapter G, as
follows:  

SUBCHAPTER G. DEVELOPING LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN
CHILDREN 

Sec. 531.251. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH GRANTS. Requires the Health
and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to expand the Texas Integrated Funding
Initiative pilot project (TIFI) to enable the TIFI to award certain grants
on or before September 1, 2001. Requires HHSC to, by rule, develop criteria
for awarding grants under this section to encourage certain action.
Authorizes the grants to be paid from a fund developed for the TIFI, and
authorizes the HHSC to establish and identify money for related projects. 

Sec. 531.252. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRANT PROJECTS. Authorizes the HHSC
to provide technical assistance to a community that receives a grant under
Section 531.251. 

Sec. 531.253. STATEWIDE EVALUATION SYSTEM. Requires the HHSC to develop an
evaluation system to measure outcomes of projects that are associated with
the TIFI. 

SECTION 2. Requires certain departments, agencies, and commissions to
transfer certain funds to finance the TIFI.  Requires HHSC to promote the
participation of new communities in and projects for the TIFI to attract
matching funds and local participation. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.