BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 873

By: Sanford

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that it is important to recognize the positive results of the vocational rehabilitation program and to inform the public of these outcomes and of the program's current agenda. C.S.H.B. 873 seeks to publicize the achievements of the vocational rehabilitation program.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 873 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to publish information regarding the success of the vocational rehabilitation program on the respective agency's website. The bill requires a video published on the DARS website, including the DARS Division for Rehabilitation Services' vocational rehabilitation orientation video, to be accessible through video streaming platforms that are compatible with common operating systems for electronic devices and requires DARS to consult with the Department of Information Resources to determine the video streaming platforms to be used for this purpose. The bill authorizes the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 873 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 117.0285 to read as follows:

Sec. 117.0285.  PUBLIC SHARING AND WEBSITES. (a) In this section, "vocational rehabilitation program" has the meaning assigned by Section 111.002.

(b)  The department and the commission shall publish information regarding the success of the vocational rehabilitation program on the respective agencies' Internet websites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)  The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

 

SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 117.0285 to read as follows:

Sec. 117.0285.  PUBLIC SHARING AND WEBSITES. (a) In this section, "vocational rehabilitation program" has the meaning assigned by Section 111.002.

(b)  The department and the commission shall publish information regarding the success of the vocational rehabilitation program on the respective agencies' Internet websites.

(c)  A video published on the department's Internet website, including the department's Division for Rehabilitation Services' vocational rehabilitation orientation video, must be accessible through video streaming platforms that are compatible with common operating systems for electronic devices, including personal computers, tablet computers, wireless communication devices, and other portable electronic devices. The department shall consult with the Department of Information Resources to determine the video streaming platforms to be used by the department to comply with this subsection.

(d)  The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.