C.S.H.B. 1423 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1423 By: Coleman Human Services Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits recipients of federally funded assistance from being excluded from or discriminated against based on race, color or national origin. The Office of Civil Rights states that in order to be in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, consumers of federally funded assistance programs should be provided information in the language of their understanding. Federal matching funds are available through the Medicaid program for the state's expenditures related to the provision of oral and written translation services to Medicaid recipients. In order to begin utilizing these funds, CSHB 1423 will require the Health and Human Services Commission to create an interpreter services pilot program for Medicaid recipients. Matching funds will be contributed by local governmental entities. Harris County Hospital District, Bexar County Hospital District, El Paso County Hospital District, Tarrant County Hospital District and Parkland Health and Hospital System would be included in the pilot program. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS CSHB 1423 amends the Human Resource Code by requiring the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) to establish a pilot program to provide oral and written interpreter services to Medicaid recipients. The bill requires the commission to establish the sites, including Harris County Hospital District, Bexar County Hospital District, El Paso County Hospital District, Tarrant County Hospital District and Parkland Health and Hospital System. The bill requires that federal matching funds and funds provided by local governmental entities be used to fund the pilot program and authorizes local government funds to be transferred to the Health and Human Services Commission by intergovernmental transfer or by certification. The bill requires the commission to evaluate the program by January 1, 2005, and requires the pilot to expire on September 1, 2005. CSHB 1423 does not require the commission to implement the program unless an appropriation is made for the implementation of this Act in the General Appropriations Act of the 78th Legislature. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE CSHB 1423 varies from the original bill by adding additional local governmental entities in which a pilot program must be located, including Bexar County Hospital District, El Paso County Hospital District, Tarrant County Hospital District and Parkland Health and Hospital System. CSHB 1423 authorizes local governmental entities to transfer money to the Health and Human Services Commission by certification or intergovernmental transfer.