By Zaffirini                                            S.B. No. 35
         77R519 JRD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to authorizing the Health and Human Services Commission to
 1-3     make grants to community-based organizations to provide support for
 1-4     long-term care services.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Section 531.02481, Government Code, is amended by
 1-7     amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
 1-8     follows:
 1-9           (a)  The commission, the Texas Department of Human Services,
1-10     and the Texas Department on Aging shall assist communities in this
1-11     state in developing comprehensive, community-based support and
1-12     service delivery systems for long-term care services.  At the
1-13     request of a community-based organization or combination of
1-14     community-based organizations, the commission may provide a grant
1-15     to the organization or combination of organizations in accordance
1-16     with Subsection (g).  At the request of a community, the commission
1-17     shall provide resources and assistance to the community to enable
1-18     the community to:
1-19                 (1)  identify and overcome institutional barriers to
1-20     developing more comprehensive community support systems, including
1-21     barriers that result from the policies and procedures of state
1-22     health and human services agencies;
1-23                 (2)  develop a system of blended funds, consistent with
1-24     the requirements of federal law and the General Appropriations Act,
 2-1     to allow the community to customize services to fit individual
 2-2     community needs; and
 2-3                 (3)  develop a local system of access and assistance to
 2-4     aid clients in accessing the full range of long-term care services.
 2-5           (g)  In making a grant to a community-based organization, the
 2-6     commission shall evaluate the organization's proposal based on
 2-7     demonstrated need and the merit of the proposal.  If a combination
 2-8     of community-based organizations makes a proposal, the combination
 2-9     must designate a single organization to receive and administer the
2-10     grant.  The commission may adopt guidelines for proposals under
2-11     this subsection.  The commission shall give priority to proposals
2-12     that will use the Internet and related information technologies to
2-13     provide to clients referral services, other information regarding
2-14     local long-term care services, and needs assessment.  To receive a
2-15     grant under this section, a community-based organization must at
2-16     least partially match the state grant with money or other resources
2-17     obtained from a nongovernmental entity, from a local government, or
2-18     if the community-based organization is a local government, from
2-19     fees or taxes collected by the local government.  The
2-20     community-based organization may then combine the money or
2-21     resources the organization obtains from a variety of state, local,
2-22     federal, or private sources to accomplish the purpose of the
2-23     proposal.  If a community-based organization receives a grant on
2-24     behalf of a combination of community-based organizations or if the
2-25     community-based organization's proposal involved coordinating with
2-26     other entities to accomplish the purpose of the proposal, the
2-27     commission may condition receipt of the grant on the organization's
 3-1     making a good faith effort to coordinate with other entities in the
 3-2     manner indicated in the proposal.
 3-3           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.