BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1230
81R10170 KFF-D By: Van de Putte
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The 75th Legislature, 1997, created a Long-Term Care Legislative Oversight Committee to address issues facing long-term care in Texas. The Long-Term Care Legislative Oversight Committee held legislative hearings and issued reports and recommendations to the legislature on issues relating to long-term care. However, the 79th Legislature, 2005, abolished the Long-Term Care Legislative Oversight Committee despite the fact that the aging population in Texas is increasing in numbers. While services for the aging are provided by numerous agencies, there is not a specific legislative committee designated solely to address the full range of aging issues facing Texas.
As proposed, S.B. 1230 establishes a Legislative Committee on Aging (committee), tasked with studying and making recommendations regarding pertinent issues that impact the lives of the aging population of Texas. S.B. 1230 requires the committee to study issues relating to health care, income, transportation, housing, education, and employment. The bill also requires the committee to submit a report to the legislature with recommendations before each legislative session.
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 Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, by adding Subchapter G, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING
Sec. 161.251. DEFINITIONS. Defines "committee" and "health and human services agency."
Sec. 161.252. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING ESTABLISHED. Provides that the Legislative Committee on Aging (committee) is established to study issues relating to the aging population of Texas, including issues related to the health care, income, transportation, housing, education, and employment needs of that population, and to make recommendations to address those issues.
Sec. 161.253. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE; PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) Provides that the committee is composed of two members of the senate and one public member appointed by the lieutenant governor and two members of the house of representatives and one public member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Provides that a member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the appointing official.
(c) Requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to appoint the presiding officer of the committee on an alternating basis. Requires the presiding officer to serve a two-year term expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
Sec. 161.254. COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) Requires the committee to meet at the call of the presiding officer; conduct a continuing study of issues relating to the aging population; analyze the availability of, and unmet needs for, state and local services for the aging population; and request reports and other information relating to the aging population as necessary from the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (executive commissioner), the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), other health and human service agencies, the attorney general, and any other state agency.
(b) Requires the executive commissioner, DADS, other health and human services agencies, the attorney general, and any other applicable state agency to fully cooperate with the committee in performing the committee's duties under this subchapter.
(c) Authorizes the committee to issue process, in accordance with Section 301.024 (Process), Government Code, to compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, documents, and instruments required by the committee.
(d) Requires the committee to use the existing staff resources of the senate and the house of representatives to assist the committee in performing its duties under this section.
Sec. 161.255. REPORT. (a) Requires the committee to report to the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives having jurisdiction of issues related to the needs of the aging population not later than November 15 of each even-numbered year.
(b) Requires that the report include a summary of the hearings and studies conducted by the committee during the preceding year, a statement of findings based on the hearings and studies conducted by the committee, and recommendations for legislation.
SECTION 2. Requires the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to appoint members of the committee, as established by this Act, not later than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.