SRC-VRA H.B. 3125 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3125
78R9403 KKA-FBy: Truitt (Zaffirini)
Finance
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment program was created by
the 75th Texas Legislature to provide blindness prevention education,
screening and treatment for Texans who are not covered under an adequate
health benefit plan.  Current Texas law prohibits the Texas Commission for
the Blind (TCB) from applying donated funds toward a federal match.  H.B.
3125 revises the current program to include transition services for
eligible blind Texans, which would allow TCB to use that portion of the
donated money as a match to draw down additional federal dollars for
services. 

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.  Amends Sections 91.027(a) and (b), Human Resources Code, as
follows: 

(a)  Requires the Texas Commission for the Blind (TCB), to the extent that
funds are available under Sections 521.421(f) and 521.422(b),
Transportation Code, to operate, rather than develop, a Blindness
Education, Screening, and Treatment Program to provide transition services
to blind disabled individuals eligible for vocational rehabilitation
services under Section 91.052.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

(b)  Requires the program to include transition services.  Deletes a
reference to TCB implementing the program to the extent funds are
available.     

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.