SRC-CTC, C.S.S.B. 36 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 36
77R2444(1) ESHBy: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
2/1/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, health and human services caseworkers at various agencies know
little about the programs available for children at other agencies.  As
proposed, C.S.S.B. 36 establishes joint training for health and human
services caseworkers to increase their awareness and knowledge of services
available to children in their, and at other, agencies. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 531B, Government Code, by adding Section
531.0244, as follows: 

Sec. 531.0244. JOINT TRAINING FOR CERTAIN CASEWORKERS.  Requires the
commissioner of health and human services to provide for joint training for
health and human services caseworkers whose clients are children, including
caseworkers employed by certain departments.  Requires training under this
section to be designed to increase a caseworker's knowledge and awareness
of the services available to children at each health and human services
agency or local mental health or mental retardation authority, including
long-term care programs and services available under a Section 1915(c)
waiver program. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Differs from the original by including employees of local
mental health or mental retardation authorities in the list of caseworkers
who are to receive joint training to increase their knowledge and awareness
of services available to children at certain agencies or authorities.