SRC-JEC C.S.S.B. 54 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 54
2001SO674/1By: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
3/2/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no comprehensive listing of state programs serving
children up to age six.  C.S.S.B. 54 requires agencies that provide
services to young children to report to the Texas Health and Human Services
Commission regarding their efforts.  It also requires the commission to
report to the legislature and recommend plans for improved coordination
between agencies. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of health and
human services in SECTION 1 (Section 531.0244, Government Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 531B, Government Code, to add Section 531.0244,
as follows: 

Sec. 531.0244.  DELIVERY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO YOUNG TEXANS.  (a)
Requires the executive head of each health and human services agency to
report annually to the governing body of that agency on that agency's
efforts to provide health and human services to children younger than six
years of age, including the development of any new programs or the
enhancement of existing programs.  Requires the agency to submit a copy of
the report to the Health and Human Services Commission (commission). 

(b)  Requires the commission to prepare and deliver a biennial report to
the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, the comptroller, the Legislative Budget Board, and
appropriate legislative committees on the efforts of the health and human
services agencies to provide health and human services to children younger
than six years of age.  Authorizes the report to contain recommendations by
the commission to better coordinate state agency programs relating to the
delivery of health and human services to children younger than six years of
age and to propose joint agency collaborative programs. 

(c)  Requires the commissioner of health and human services (commissioner)
to adopt rules relating to the reports required by Subsection (a),
including rules specifying when and in what manner a health and human
services agency is required to report and the information to be included in
the report.  Requires each agency to follow the rules adopted by the
commissioner under this section. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the commission to prepare and deliver the first report
as required by Section 531.0244(b), Government Code, as added by this Act,
not later than September 1, 2002. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Differs from original by addressing children younger than six,
rather than four, years of age. 
 
SECTION 2.  Differs from original by changing the deadline for the
commission to deliver the report from December 1, 2002, to September 1,
2002.