BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 46

                                                                                                                                          By: Nelson

                                                                                                                  Health & Human Services

                                                                                                                                            5/27/2005

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, there are several health and human services (HHS) benefit programs, each with its own identification and validation mechanism.  The state recently recognized similar duplication among its eligibility programs and undertook a significant project to consolidate eligibility. 

 

S.B. 46 encourages the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to consider combining the benefit delivery mechanism for multiple HHS benefit programs to gain cost-efficiencies.  S.B. 46 allows HHSC to develop and implement a new method, including an integrated benefits card, to consolidate identification and benefits issuance for multiple HHS services if HHSC determines such a consolidation to be cost effective. 

 

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.080, as follows:

 

Sec. 531.080.  INTEGRATED BENEFITS ISSUANCE.  (a)  Authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) to develop and implement a method to consolidate, to the extent possible, recipient identification and benefits issuance for the commission and health and human services agencies if the commission determines that the implementation would be feasible and cost-effective. 

 

(b)  Sets forth certain aspects the commission is authorized to include in a method to consolidate recipient information and benefits issuance. 

 

(c)  Sets forth certain requirements to be met by the commission in the development and implementation of the method. 

 

SECTION 2.  (a)  Requires the commission to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using a single integrated benefits issuance card, multiple cards, or another method, for consolidating recipient identification and benefits issuance for certain health and human services programs not later than January 1, 2006. 

 

(b)  Authorizes the commission to consider information obtained from certain agencies in conducting the assessment.

 

(c)  Authorizes the commission to require any health and human services agency and the Department of Information Resources to assist the commission in performing its duties under this section.

 

SECTION 3.  Requires the commission to report the findings of the assessment to the clerks of the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives having jurisdiction over health and human services issues not later than July 1, 2006. 

 

SECTION 4.  Authorizes delay of implementation of any provision of this Act until any necessary federal waivers or authorizations are obtained.

 

SECTION 5.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2005.