BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1060

83R2663 ADM-D

By: Nelson

 

Health & Human Services

 

3/18/2013

 

As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) implemented family cost sharing provisions for the Early Childhood Intervention program in 2004.

 

S.B. 1060 requires DARS to collect data and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of family cost share provisions in the Early Childhood Intervention program, and to implement changes to those provisions to improve the cost-effectiveness of the program.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1060 amends current law relating to family cost share provisions in the early childhood intervention program.

 

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 Subchapter D, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, by adding Sections 117.077 and 117.078, as follows:

 

Sec. 117.077.  DATA ANALYSIS IN FAMILY COST SHARE PROVISIONS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAM.  (a) Defines "cost-effective" in this section.

 

(b) Requires the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to collect data, including data on administrative costs and adjusted family income, sufficient to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the family cost share provisions of the early childhood intervention program and changes necessary to improve the cost-effectiveness of the program.

 

(c) Requires DARS to, as necessary, modify the Texas Kids Intervention Data System to accept adjusted family income data submitted by early childhood intervention program providers, and require all providers to enter adjusted family income data into the system.

 

(d) Requires DARS to use the data collected under this section to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of existing family cost share provisions in the early childhood intervention program and consider changes that may improve the cost-effectiveness of the program, including the adoption of a family cost share provision described by Section 117.078(a).

 

(e) Requires DARS to implement any changes considered under Subsection (d) that DARS determines will make the early childhood intervention program more cost-effective.  Authorizes DARS, if none of the considered changes is determined to make the program more cost-effective, to decline to implement the changes.

 

(f) Requires DARS to evaluate existing family cost share provisions and consider and implement changes, if appropriate, to the early childhood intervention program as required by this section on a periodic basis established by DARS and at other times at the request of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB).

 

(g) Requires DARS, not later than December 1, 2014, to conduct the initial evaluation required under Subsection (d) and implement any changes as required by Subsection (e) resulting from that evaluation, and submit a report to the governor and LBB summarizing the results of the initial evaluation and explaining any changes that were implemented.

 

(h) Provides that this subsection and Subsection (g) expire September 1, 2015.

 

Sec. 117.078.  FAMILY COST SHARE PROVISION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAM.  (a) Requires DARS to consider implementing a family cost share provision under which the amount a family pays to participate in the early childhood intervention program is based on the amount of service the family receives under the program.

 

(b) Requires that a family cost share provision implemented by DARS under Subsection (a) establish a maximum amount to be paid by a family participating in the early childhood intervention program that is based on the family's size and adjusted gross income, with families in higher income brackets required to pay more under the provision than those families paid before the provision's implementation.

 

SECTION 2.  Requires a state agency, if necessary for implementation of a provision of this Act, to request a waiver or authorization from a federal agency, and authorizes a delay of implementation until such a waiver or authorization is granted.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.