BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 304

By: Nichols

Economic & Small Business Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

An individual who receives indigent health care services from a hospital district or public hospital may also need employment services.  S.B. 304 seeks to help these individuals gain employment, thereby reducing the need for indigent health care services, by giving hospital districts and public hospitals the option to establish employment services programs and require such individuals to participate in the programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 304 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a public hospital or hospital district to establish procedures consistent with those used by the Health and Human Services Commission under provisions of law relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program for administering an employment services program and requiring an applicant for indigent health care assistance or a resident eligible for such assistance to register for work with the Texas Workforce Commission. The bill requires the public hospital or hospital district to notify each person with a pending application and all eligible residents of the requirements of the employment services program not less than 30 days before the program is established.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.