BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 126

By: Nelson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Certain contracted providers of community mental health and substance abuse services currently report performance and outcome measures to the Department of State Health Services. Observers note, however, that this data is not made available to the public, making it difficult for consumers and other stakeholders to compare performance across providers. S.B. 126 seeks to increase transparency and accountability for state funding for community mental health and substance abuse programs to allow consumers and other stakeholders to compare outcomes across providers.

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. 126 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), not later than December 1, 2013, to establish and maintain a public reporting system of performance and outcome measures relating to mental health and substance abuse services established by the Legislative Budget Board and DSHS. The bill requires the system to allow external users to view and compare the performance, outputs, and outcomes of community centers established by a county, municipality, hospital district, school district, or an organizational combination of two or more of those local agencies that provide mental health services; managed care pilot programs that provide mental health services; and persons that contract with the state to provide substance abuse services.

S.B. 126 requires DSHS to post the performance, output, and outcome measures on the DSHS Internet website so that the information is accessible to the public and to post the measures quarterly or semiannually in accordance with when the measures are reported to DSHS. The bill requires DSHS to ensure that information reported through the public reporting system does not permit the identification of an individual.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.