By:  Moncrief                                          S.B. No. 834
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to electronic access to health and human services
 1-3     information.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 531.0317 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 531.0317.  HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION MADE
 1-8     AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INTERNET.  (a)  In this section, "Internet"
 1-9     means the largest nonproprietary, nonprofit cooperative public
1-10     computer network, popularly known as the Internet.
1-11           (b)  The commission, in cooperation with the Department of
1-12     Information Resources, shall establish and maintain through the
1-13     TexasOnline project established by the Department of Information
1-14     Resources a generally accessible and interactive Internet site that
1-15     contains information for the public regarding the services and
1-16     programs provided or administered by each of the health and human
1-17     services agencies throughout the state.
1-18           (c)  The Internet site must:
1-19                 (1)  be organized by the type of service provided
1-20     rather than by the agency or provider delivering the service;
1-21                 (2)  contain eligibility criteria for each agency
1-22     program;
1-23                 (3)  contain application forms for each of the public
1-24     assistance programs administered by health and human services
1-25     agencies;
 2-1                 (4)  provide access to a site developed by the Texas
 2-2     Information and Referral Network under Section 531.0313;
 2-3                 (5)  contain the telephone number and, to the extent
 2-4     available, the electronic mail address for each health and human
 2-5     services agency and local provider of health and human services;
 2-6                 (6)  be designed in a manner that allows a member of
 2-7     the public to send questions about each agency's programs or
 2-8     services electronically and receive responses to the questions from
 2-9     the agency electronically;
2-10                 (7)  be updated at least quarterly; and
2-11                 (8)  be accessible through an information link on the
2-12     TexasOnline portal.
2-13           (d)  In designing the Internet site, the commission shall
2-14     comply with any state standards for Internet sites that are
2-15     prescribed by the Department of Information Resources or any other
2-16     state agency.
2-17           (e)  Each health and human services agency, the Texas
2-18     Information and Referral Network, and the Department of Information
2-19     Resources shall cooperate with the commission to the extent
2-20     necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties under this
2-21     section.
2-22           (f)  If the Department of Information Resources has a program
2-23     management office, the department may delegate its duties under
2-24     this section to that office.
2-25           SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
2-26     of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall
 3-1     establish the health and human services information Internet site
 3-2     required by Section 531.0317, Government Code, as added by this
 3-3     Act.
 3-4           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.