1-1     By:  Moncrief                                          S.B. No. 834
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2001; February 22, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
 1-4     Services; March 12, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 12, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to electronic access to health and human services
 1-9     information.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
1-12     amended by adding Section 531.0317 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 531.0317.  HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION MADE
1-14     AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INTERNET.  (a)  In this section, "Internet"
1-15     means the largest nonproprietary, nonprofit cooperative public
1-16     computer network, popularly known as the Internet.
1-17           (b)  The commission, in cooperation with the Department of
1-18     Information Resources, shall establish and maintain through the
1-19     TexasOnline project established by the Department of Information
1-20     Resources a generally accessible and interactive Internet site that
1-21     contains information for the public regarding the services and
1-22     programs provided or administered by each of the health and human
1-23     services agencies throughout the state.
1-24           (c)  The Internet site must:
1-25                 (1)  be organized by the type of service provided
1-26     rather than by the agency or provider delivering the service;
1-27                 (2)  contain eligibility criteria for each agency
1-28     program;
1-29                 (3)  contain application forms for each of the public
1-30     assistance programs administered by health and human services
1-31     agencies;
1-32                 (4)  provide access to a site developed by the Texas
1-33     Information and Referral Network under Section 531.0313;
1-34                 (5)  contain the telephone number and, to the extent
1-35     available, the electronic mail address for each health and human
1-36     services agency and local provider of health and human services;
1-37                 (6)  be designed in a manner that allows a member of
1-38     the public to send questions about each agency's programs or
1-39     services electronically and receive responses to the questions from
1-40     the agency electronically;
1-41                 (7)  be updated at least quarterly; and
1-42                 (8)  be accessible through an information link on the
1-43     TexasOnline portal.
1-44           (d)  In designing the Internet site, the commission shall
1-45     comply with any state standards for Internet sites that are
1-46     prescribed by the Department of Information Resources or any other
1-47     state agency.
1-48           (e)  Each health and human services agency, the Texas
1-49     Information and Referral Network, and the Department of Information
1-50     Resources shall cooperate with the commission to the extent
1-51     necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties under this
1-52     section.
1-53           (f)  If the Department of Information Resources has a program
1-54     management office, the department may delegate its duties under
1-55     this section to that office.
1-56           SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
1-57     of this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall
1-58     establish the health and human services information Internet site
1-59     required by Section 531.0317, Government Code, as added by this
1-60     Act.
1-61           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-62                                  * * * * *