1-1     By:  Maxey (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)               H.B. No. 1396
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 1999;
 1-3     March 30, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Human
 1-4     Services; May 6, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 6, 1999,
 1-6     sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1396               By:  Zaffirini
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to the evaluation of licensing for intermediate care
1-11     facilities for the mentally retarded.
1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13           SECTION 1.  The Texas Department of Human Services shall
1-14     evaluate the department's approach to licensing intermediate care
1-15     facilities for the mentally retarded.  In conducting its
1-16     evaluation, the department shall consult with the Texas Department
1-17     of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, facility providers and
1-18     staff, advocates for facility residents, and facility residents and
1-19     their families.  The evaluation must consider appropriate
1-20     distinctions between nursing facilities and intermediate care
1-21     facilities.
1-22           SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Human Services shall
1-23     present a report on its evaluation of the licensing of intermediate
1-24     care facilities for the mentally retarded to the governor,
1-25     lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
1-26     not later than October 1, 2000.  The report must include any
1-27     recommendations, based on the evaluation, for changes in law the
1-28     department considers necessary.
1-29           SECTION 3.  This Act expires January 17, 2001.
1-30           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-31     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-32     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-33     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-34     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-35     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-36     passage, and it is so enacted.
1-37                                  * * * * *