SRC-VRA S.B. 1825 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1825
By: Van de Putte
Health & Human Services
5/14/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1825 amends current provisions in the Health and Safety
Code relating to the regulation of certain assisted living facilities,
convalescent and nursing homes, including allowing nursing home facilities
and assisted living facilities an appeal mechanism to the LongTerm Care
Legislative Oversight Committee, when they allege that rules being
proposed or enacted, are in conflict with legislative intent; the use of
electronic monitoring devices; and exit conferences regarding certain
violations.  

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 Section 242.653, Health and Safety Code, as follows:
(a)  Requires the long-term care legislative oversight committee
(committee)  to, at the written request of a duly constituted Section
501(c) nonprofit association, convene a public hearing for the purpose of
receiving testimony with regard to a rule proposed or adopted by the Texas
Department of Human Services (DHS) relating to nursing facilities and to
assisted living facilities when it is alleged that the rule is in conflict
with the intent of the legislature as expressed forth in this chapter and
Chapter 247. 
 
(c)  Authorizes the committee, on a vote of a majority of the members, to
send to DHS and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) a
statement that the committee has determined that a rule proposed or
adopted by DHS or HHSC is in conflict with legislative intent.  Authorizes
the statement to indicate the nature of the conflict identified by the
committee and request that HHSC review the rule under Section 531.034,
Government Code. 
 
 (d) Created from existing text.
 
 (e)-(g)  Redesignates Subsections (d)-(f) as (e)-(g).
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Section 247.003, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: 
 
 (a)  Makes a conforming change.
 
(c)  Provides that Subchapter O, Chapter 242, applies to legislative
oversight of DHS actions relating to the assisted living facility
regulatory system of this state in the same manner that it applies to
legislative oversight of DHS action relating to the nursing facility
regulatory system of this state. 
 
SECTION 3.  Amends Section 531.034(b), Government Code, to require HHSC to
review agency rules at the request of the long-term care legislative
oversight committee. 
 
 SECTION 4.  Amends Section 242.852, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (c) to provide that a person who covertly uses or who
authorizes the covert use of an electronic monitoring device, as described
in Section 242.843, in the room of a resident of an institution commits an
offense.  Provides that an offense under this section is a Class B
misdemeanor. 
 
SECTION 5.  Amends Section 242.0372, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsection (f) to provide that this section takes effect September 1,
2005. 
 
SECTION 6.  Amends Sections 242.0445(b) and (c), Health and Safety Code,
as follows: 
 
(b)  Provides that a telephone conference between DHS or DHS's
representative and the facility regarding additional violations is not
sufficient to satisfy DHS's responsibility for an additional exit
conference in person. 
 
(c)  Requires the facility, following an additional exit conference, if
applicable, to submit a plan to correct the violations to the regional
director not later than the 10th working day after the date the facility
receives the final official statement of violations. 
 
SECTION 7.  Amends Section 247.0271, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d), to make conforming changes. 
 
SECTION 8.  Repealer:  Section 6.02, Chapter 1284, Acts of the 77th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2001. 
 
SECTION 9.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.