SRC-CTC S.B. 558 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 558
77R2956 SMJ-DBy: Madla
Health & Human Services
2/15/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, drug and alcohol abuse costs Texas $19.3 billion a year,
according to a 1997 report by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse.  The issue of abuse and its consequences are approached from several
directions by various agencies and entities, however there is no single
comprehensive resource for developing policy or program planning.  As
proposed, S.B. 558 creates a Drug Demand Reduction Advisory Committee which
brings together the leaders of 14 state agencies to develop the direction
of the state's efforts to counter illegal drug use and its consequences. 

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 461, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
461.017, as follows: 

Sec. 461.017.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REDUCING DRUG ABUSE.  (a) Provides
that the Drug Abuse Reduction Advisory Committee (committee) is composed of
19 members and sets forth the manner in which the members are appointed
from certain entities. 

(b) Requires the representative of the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse (commission) to serve as the presiding officer of the committee.
Authorizes the commission to provide administrative support staff to the
committee. 

(c) Requires the committee to meet at least once in each quarter of each
calendar year on dates determined by the committee. 

(d) Requires the committee to serve as a single source of information for
the governor, the legislature, and the public about issues relating to drug
abuse, including available prevention programs and services. 
 
(e) Requires the committee to develop a statewide strategy to reduce drug
abuse.  Sets forth certain criteria for the strategy to include. 

(f) Requires the committee to identify lead or contributing agencies or
offices that shall implement the strategy described in Subsection (e).
Requires the committee to coordinate the implementation of the strategy by
those agencies or offices. 

(h) Requires the committee, not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered
year, to present a report containing certain information to the governor,
the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.