BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 37

80R778 BEF-D                                                                                                                 By: Nelson

                                                                                                              Health and Human Servcices

                                                                                                                                              2/1/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Office of Patient Protection was disbanded in the 79th Legislature.  The functions handled at the defunct office were moved to the Office of the Ombudsman at the Health and Human Services Commission.  However, references to the defunct office and its transferred duties are still reflected in law.  As proposed, S.B. 37 amends state law to reflect the current duties of and the funding for the Office of the Ombudsman and removes all references to the Office of Patient Protection. 

 

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 531.008(c), Government Code, to require the office of the ombudsman within the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide information to the public about the complaint process of each licensing agency listed in Section 101.002, Occupations Code, and the status of complaints at each agency within the Health Professions Council (council).  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

 

SECTION 2. Transfers and redesignates Section 101.307, Occupations Code, as Section 531.0275,  Government Code, and amends that section as follows:

 

Sec. 531.0275.  New heading: FUNDING OF OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN.   Provides that the purpose of this section is to establish funding for the office of the ombudsman.  Makes conforming changes.  Increases by $5 the initial licensing or registration fees charged by each licensing agency within the council.  Increases by $1 the renewal fee charged by each agency within the council for every year a license or registration is renewed.  Requires fee increases authorized under this section to be deposited in a special account in the general revenue fund  and authorizes its appropriation only for certain purposes.  Deletes existing text relating to the expenditure of the fees collected under this section. 

 

SECTION 3. Repealer: Sections 101.301 through 101.306, Occupations Code (relating to the Office of Patient Protection).

SECTION 4.  Repealer: Subchapter heading to Subchapter G, Chapter 101, Occupations Code (SUBCHAPTER G: OFFICE OF PATIENT PROTECTION). 

 

SECTION 5.  Makes application of Section 531.0275, Government Code, as amended by this Act, prospective to October 1, 2007.

 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.