HBA-JEK S.B. 301 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 301
By: Zaffirini
Public Health
4/24/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Legislature created the Office for Prevention of Developmental
Disabilities (office) in 1989 to help minimize the human and economic
losses in Texas caused by preventable disabilities.  The office has focused
its resources on reducing youth risk, preventing head and spinal cord
injury, and, most notably, on raising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
In 1999, the legislature administratively attached the office to the Texas
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR).  The Sunset
Advisory Commission reviewed the office in 2000 and recommended repealing
the separate sunset provision for the office and allowing it to be reviewed
in conjunction with MHMR.  Senate Bill 301 removes the provision that
subjects the office to review by the Sunset Advisory Commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 301 amends the Human Resources Code to repeal the provision the
specifies that the Office for the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities
is subject to the Texas Sunset Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.