SRC-TJG, JEC H.B. 1350 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1350 78R636 SMJ-DBy: Uresti (Shapleigh) Health & Human Services 5/18/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the state spends millions of dollars to provide mental health services to children, through many channels. H.B. 1350 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to evaluate all children's mental health service funding programs, and to analyze and make recommendations regarding those programs. 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. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to review and evaluate all sources of public funding for programs in this state that provide mental health services to children, including programs provided by the juvenile justice system, the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments, and the Texas Education Agency. (b) Requires the evaluation to describe each program and the services it provides, the sources of funding for the program, and the purposes for which the funds are used. Requires the evaluation to also include recommendations regarding future funding for those programs, including sources and amounts, and opportunities for coordinating funding between different agencies, and a determination of whether more effective methods exist for funding children's mental health services in this state. (c) Requires HHSC to report on the results of the evaluation to the 79th Legislature not later than January 11, 2005. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.