AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

C.S.S.B. 71 eliminates obsolete and redundant reports required of the health and human services agencies, and reduces the frequency of reports when appropriate.  This will allow the health and human services agencies to focus state resources on providing information that is current and relevant to the governor, the legislature, and the public.

 

C.S.S.B. 71 amends current law relating to certain reports submitted and analyses conducted by health and human services agencies.

 

[Note: While the statutory reference in this bill is to the Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS), the following amendments affect the Department of Aging and Disability Services, as the successor agency to TDHS.]

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is rescinded in SECTION 9 (Section 531.0243, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading to Section 531.0274, Government Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec.  531.0274.  COORDINATION AND APPROVAL OF CASELOAD ESTIMATES.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 531.1235(b), Government Code, to require the Guardianship Advisory Board (advisory board) to prepare a biennial report, rather than an annual report, with respect to the recommendations of the advisory board under Subsection (a).  Requires the advisory board to file the report with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Department of Aging and Disability Services, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives not later than December 15 of each even-numbered year, rather than December 15 of each year.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 531.124(b), Government Code, to make a conforming change.

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 22.005(d), Human Resources Code, to delete existing text relating to the reporting on handling of the Texas Department of Human Services' (TDHS) unencumbered balances at the end of each fiscal biennium.

 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 33.002(d), Human Resources Code, to delete existing text relating to the reporting of TDHS' monitoring of expedited issuance of food stamp benefits and the degree of compliance with federal regulations on a region-by-region basis after the end of each fiscal year.

 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 34.006, Human Resources Code, to delete existing text requiring the inclusion of certain information and recommendations by the Texas Workforce Commission in the report required by Section 34.007 (Report).

 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 131.005, Human Resources Code, to require each health and human services agency that provides, purchases, or otherwise funds transportation services for clients to comply with the standardized system of reporting and accounting established by the office under Section 131.003(a)(3) (relating to the establishment of a standardized system of reporting and accounting to be used by all health and human services agencies providing client transportation) and make any changes to agency data collection systems that are necessary to enable the agency to comply with the standardized system.  Deletes existing text relating to submitting a report relating to transportation services not later than August 31 of each year.

 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 131.006, Human Resources Code, to delete existing text relating to submitting a report relating to transportation services by electronic mail and by hand delivery to certain persons not later than September 30 each even-numbered year.

 

SECTION 9.  (a) Repealer: Section 531.0243 (Reports on Delivery of Services), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.0273(b) (relating to the filing of the coordinated information resources strategic plan), Government Code;

 

Repealers: Sections 531.0274(c) (relating to a report of caseload estimates by health and human services agencies), (d) (relating to explaining certain information regarding the caseload estimates), and (e) (relating to attaching a copy of the report to the consolidated health and human services budget recommendation), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.029 (Annual Funds Report), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.0311 (Annual Work Plan), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.056(b) (relating to an annual report regarding the findings of a review), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.070(1) (relating to the definition of "labeler"), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.110(f) (relating to a biennial report of the results of the electronic data matching program), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 531.603 (Report), Government Code;

 

Repealer: Section 752.005 (Annual Report on State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant (SLIAG) and Refugee Assistance Programs), Government Code; and

 

Repealer: Section 752.006 (Spending Plan for Federal Funds), Government Code.

 

(b) Repealer: Subchapter G (Legislative Oversight for Texas Integrated Enrollment Services), Chapter 531, Government Code.

 

SECTION 10.  Repealer: Section 62.104(e) (relating to a report containing certain information regarding the child health plan), Health and Safety Code;

 

Repealers: Sections 108.0065(f) (relating to a report regarding certain information related to Medicaid), (g) (relating to authorizing consolidation of the report with certain other reports), and (h) (relating to authorizing a contract with an entity), Health and Safety Code;

 

Repealer: Section 533.049(b) (relating to a report on any proposals by private service providers for state schools), Health and Safety Code;

 

Repealer: Section 533.050(b) (relating to a report on any proposals by private service providers for state mental hospitals), Health and Safety Code; and

 

Repealer: Section 1001.031 (Annual Report), Health and Safety Code.

 

SECTION 11.  Repealer: Section 22.025(b) (relating to a report detailing progress made toward reaching goals and other certain information), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 22.0255(c) (relating to the biennial report), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 31.0034 (Annual Report), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 31.0325(d) (relating to the quarterly report), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 32.048(d) (relating to a report on the effectiveness of the comprehensive plan), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 32.055(d) (relating to a report on the implementation of the system and certain other information), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 32.257 (Biennial Report), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 32.0022(c) (relating to a report to the Public Assistance Fraud Oversight Task Force), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 34.007 (Report), Human Resources Code;

 

Repealer: Section 117.031 (Annual Report), Human Resources Code; and

 

Repealer: Section 161.031 (Annual Report), Human Resources Code.

 

SECTION 12.  Repealer: Section 1.23 (Transition Plan), Chapter 198 (H.B. 2292), Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003.

 

SECTION 13. Effective date: September 1, 2011.