BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 947

By: King, Susan

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recent legislation drastically changed the composition, structure, and delivery of health and human services in Texas. It also strengthened the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) authority to combat fraud, abuse, and waste in health and human services programs. C.S.H.B. 947 seeks to review the manner in which HHSC's office of the inspector general investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

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

C.S.H.B. 947, in temporary provisions set to expire January 1, 2015, requires the office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission to review the manner in which the office investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), including in the provision of SNAP benefits, and the manner in which the office coordinates with other state and federal agencies in conducting those investigations. The bill requires the office of inspector general, not later than September 1, 2014, and based on the review required by the bill's provisions, to submit to the legislature a written report containing strategies for addressing fraud, waste, and abuse in SNAP, including in the provision of SNAP benefits.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 947 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  REVIEW OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.  (a)  The office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission shall review how that office works with the office of attorney general to: (1)  investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision of health and human services; and (2)  enforce state law relating to the provision of those services. (b)  Not later than September 1, 2014, and based on the review required by Subsection (a) of this section, the office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit to the legislature a written report containing the office's recommendations on any additional authority needed by the office to more effectively investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision of health and human services and enforce state law relating to the provision of those services. (c)  This section expires January 1, 2015.	SECTION 1.  (a)  The office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission shall review the manner in which: (1)  the office investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, including in the provision of benefits under that program; and (2)  the office coordinates with other state and federal agencies in conducting those investigations. (b)  Not later than September 1, 2014, and based on the review required by Subsection (a) of this section, the office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit to the legislature a written report containing strategies for addressing fraud, waste, and abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, including in the provision of benefits under that program. (c)  This section expires January 1, 2015.
SECTION 2.  STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SNAP FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE.  (a)  The office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission shall develop strategies for addressing fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, and the provision of benefits under that program. (b)  Not later than September 1, 2014, the office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission shall submit to the legislature a written report on the strategies developed as required by Subsection (a) of this section. (c)  This section expires January 1, 2015.	(See SECTION 1, Subsection (b) above.)
SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.