| TO: | Honorable Gary Elkins, Chair, House Committee on Technology |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2939 by Zerwas (Relating to the interoperability of information and communication systems of the Health and Human Services Commission and health and human services agencies.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend Chapter 531 of the Government Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure that all communication and information systems, including components, databases, applications, and other information resources purchased on or after September 1, 2013 for use by HHSC or any health and human services agency are interoperable. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
The Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Department of State Health Services, and HHSC all indicate there would be increased costs, including for IT projects currently planned for fiscal years 2014-15, to implement the provisions of the bill. None of the health and human services agencies can anticipate the fiscal impact at this time because it is unclear what policies, standards, and requirements would be created to ensure interoperability while also meeting data integrity requirements for the specific agencies.
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 538 Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of, 539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of
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| LBB Staff: | UP, RB, MB, ES, VJC
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