BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.H.B. 3859
81R35137 KLA-D By: Herrero et al. (Deuell)
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
This bill amends Subchapter M, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by Chapter 1110 (H.B. 3575), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to conduct a thorough analysis of staffing needs, including the need for additional state employees and contractor staff, with respect to the enhanced eligibility system and the expansion of the use of the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS).
This bill requires HHSC, in determining the total number of HHSC and contractor full-time equivalent positions needed, to consider the number of such positions necessary to comply with state and federal requirements related to health and human services program access, including requirements related to timeliness and accuracy of application processing, delivery of expedited services and benefits, and seamless transfers of eligible children between Medicaid and the children's health insurance program and the HHSC's performance standards and benchmarks for health and humans services programs, including maximum caseload specifications.
C.S.H.B. 3859 relates to a staffing analysis of TIERS and benefits eligibility determination processes.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter M, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by Chapter 1110 (H.B. 3575), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, by adding Section 531.4551, as follows:
Sec. 531.4551. STAFFING ANALYSIS FOR ENHANCED ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM. (a) Requires HHSC to conduct a thorough analysis of staffing needs, including the need for additional state employees and contractor staff, with respect to the enhanced eligibility system and the expansion of the use of the TIERS. Requires HHSC to identify in the analysis the number of full-time equivalent positions HHSC needs to implement the system in a manner that, if met, will ensure that the system remains fully functional and that no lapses in the provision of health and human services program benefits will occur under the system, and the number of full-time equivalent positions any contractor would need to perform contracted functions to implement the system in that manner.
(b) Requires HHSC, in determining the total number of HHSC and contractor full-time equivalent positions needed as required by Subsection (a), to consider the number of full-time equivalent positions necessary to comply with state and federal requirements related to health and human services program access, including requirements related to timeliness and accuracy of application processing, delivery of expedited services and benefits, and seamless transfers of eligible children between the Medicaid and child health plan programs, and HHSC's performance standards and benchmarks for health and human services programs, including maximum caseload specifications.
SECTION 2. Requires that the agency affected by the provision, if before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, request the waiver or authorization and authorizes that agency to delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.