SRC-MWN S.B. 159 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 159
77R1331 JRD-DBy: Zaffirini
Health & Human Services
2/2/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, administrative penalties collected by the state from nursing
facilities are put in to the general treasury. As proposed, S.B. 159 would
enable the state to make grants to facilities that demonstrate "best
practices" for improving the quality of life of nursing home residents. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to Texas Department of Human
Services in SECTION 1 (Section 242.405, Health and Safety Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 242K, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
242.405 as follows: 

Sec. 242.405. BEST PRACTICES / QUALITY OF LIFE COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.
Requires the Texas Department of Human Services (department) to establish a
best practices/quality of life competitive grant program. Provides that the
purpose of the grant program is to pay part of the costs of a project
proposed by an institution that is designed to improve the quality of life
for residents of the institution and that could serve as a model of best
practices for the industry. Requires the department to monitor the
expenditure of grant money to ensure that the money is being used for the
intended purpose. Authorizes the legislature to appropriate money collected
under Section 242.066, including unexpended and unobligated amounts
collected under Section 242.066 during a previous state fiscal biennium, to
fund the grant program. Requires the department to establish guidelines for
the program by rule, including guidelines that specify the procedures for
submitting a grant proposal; the criteria the department will follow in
evaluating the proposals; and the reports that a grant recipient must file
to allow the department and the industry to evaluate the feasibility and
success of the project. Requires the department to award each grant under a
contract. Authorizes a contract to further detail reports that the grant
recipient must file; and monitoring of the project that the grant recipient
must allow. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.