SRC-TJG, VRA S.B. 247 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 247
78R3430 KEG-DBy: Zaffirini
Health and Human Services
4/8/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Without a methodology for analyzing the medical and medically related
goods and services that are required by an individual with a disabling
injury or disease, cost containment and prevention of co-morbidity is
difficult.  As proposed, S.B. 247 creates a lifetime care task force to
take certain actions relating to the care of certain persons with
disabilities.  The task force will have representatives from all state
agencies that provide long-term care. 

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 Chapter 531B, Government Code, by adding Section
531.063, as follows: 

 Sec.  531.063.  LIFETIME CARE TASK FORCE.  (a)  Defines "person with a
disability." 

(b)  Requires the Health and Human Services Commission to create a
lifetime care task force to perform certain tasks related to persons with
a disability. 

  (c)  Provides that the task force is composed of certain persons.

(d)  Provides that a member of the task force who is not a state employee
is not entitled to compensation for serving on the task force or
reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while
conducting the business of the task force. 

(e)  Provides that a member of the task force who is a state employee and
who serves on the task force in performing the member's duties as a state
employee is not entitled to additional compensation for serving on the
task force, but is entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses incurred
by the member while conducting the business of the task force if the
reimbursement is otherwise available to the member as a state employee. 

(f)  Requires an appointment to fill a vacancy on the task force to be
made in the same manner as the original appointment. 

(g)  Requires the commissioner of health and human services (commissioner)
to designate a member of the task force to serve as a presiding officer.
Requires the members of the task force to elect any other necessary
officers. 

(h)  Requires the task force to meet at the call of the commissioner at
least quarterly each year. 

(i)  Provides that a member of the task force serves at the will of the
commissioner. 

 (j)  Provides that the task force is not subject to Chapter 2110 (State
Agency Advisory Committees) 
  

SECTION 2.  (a)  Requires the commissioners of health and human services,
public health, human services, and mental health and mental retardation,
and the executive director of the Texas Department on Aging to appoint
representatives to the lifetime care task force as required by Section
531.063(c), Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December
1, 2003. 

(b)  Requires the commissioner to call the first meeting of the lifetime
care task force, as required by Section 531.063(h), Government Code, as
added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.