BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 2850

                                                                                                                                            By: Uresti

                                                                                                                           Government Reform

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Many Texas seniors lack sufficient nutrition to maintain their health and quality of life. As age increases, many citizens find that their ability to provide proper nutrition for themselves is compromised. Improper or insufficient nutrition among the elderly can lead to health problems, a loss of quality of life, and an increase in the number of individuals who will subsequently require more intensive, costly care. H.B. 2850 would create a pilot program designed to supply nutritional products and supplements to elderly persons to improve and maintain their health.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.  

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 2850 requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission by rule to develop and the department to implement a pilot program, to be known as the Senior Nutrition Assistance Pilot Program (SNAPP), to provide nutritional supplements and products to elderly persons to improve and maintain their health. The bill requires the executive commissioner to establish eligibility criteria for participation in the program, and requires the executive commissioner to develop the program in consultation with the department, the Department of State Health Services, and local community health centers.

 

H.B. 2850 requires that SNAPP be operated in at least two counties, one of which must be in a primarily rural area, and one of which must have a population of less than 1.4 million and in which a municipality with a population of more than one million is located.

 

The bill allows the department to seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations of funds or property from public or private sources to develop and implement SNAPP.

 

The bill requires the department to submit a report concerning the effectiveness of SNAPP and sets forth the criteria for such reporting.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

The Act would take immediate effect upon receiving the necessary vote. If not, this Act would take effect on September 1, 2005.