1-1     By:  Raymond (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)             H.B. No. 1154
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001;
 1-3     May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
 1-4     and Human Services; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to authorizing the Health and Human Services Commission to
 1-9     make grants to community-based organizations to provide support for
1-10     long-term care services.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1. Section 531.02481, Government Code, is amended by
1-13     amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
1-14     follows:
1-15           (a)  The commission, the Texas Department of Human Services,
1-16     and the Texas Department on Aging shall assist communities in this
1-17     state in developing comprehensive, community-based support and
1-18     service delivery systems for long-term care services.  At the
1-19     request of a community-based organization or combination of
1-20     community-based organizations, the commission may provide a grant
1-21     to the organization or combination of organizations in accordance
1-22     with Subsection (g).  At the request of a community, the commission
1-23     shall provide resources and assistance to the community to enable
1-24     the community to:
1-25                 (1)  identify and overcome institutional barriers to
1-26     developing more comprehensive community support systems, including
1-27     barriers that result from the policies and procedures of state
1-28     health and human services agencies;
1-29                 (2)  develop a system of blended funds, consistent with
1-30     the requirements of federal law and the General Appropriations Act,
1-31     to allow the community to customize services to fit individual
1-32     community needs; and
1-33                 (3)  develop a local system of access and assistance to
1-34     aid clients in accessing the full range of long-term care services.
1-35           (g)  In making a grant to a community-based organization, the
1-36     commission shall evaluate the organization's proposal based on
1-37     demonstrated need and the merit of the proposal.  If a combination
1-38     of community-based organizations makes a proposal, the combination
1-39     must designate a single organization to receive and administer the
1-40     grant.  The commission may adopt guidelines for proposals under
1-41     this subsection.  The commission shall give priority to proposals
1-42     that will use the Internet and related information technologies to
1-43     provide to clients referral services, other information regarding
1-44     local long-term care services, and needs assessment.  To receive a
1-45     grant under this section, a community-based organization must at
1-46     least partially match the state grant with money or other resources
1-47     obtained from a nongovernmental entity, from a local government, or
1-48     if the community-based organization is a local government, from
1-49     fees or taxes collected by the local government.  The
1-50     community-based organization may then combine the money or
1-51     resources the organization obtains from a variety of state, local,
1-52     federal, or private sources to accomplish the purpose of the
1-53     proposal.  If a community-based organization receives a grant on
1-54     behalf of a combination of community-based organizations or if the
1-55     community-based organization's proposal involved coordinating with
1-56     other entities to accomplish the purpose of the proposal, the
1-57     commission may condition receipt of the grant on the organization's
1-58     making a good faith effort to coordinate with other entities in the
1-59     manner indicated in the proposal.
1-60           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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