84R4334 LED-D

By: Sanford H.B. No. 2966

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an interim study regarding the identification of health and human services programs that can be privatized.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The joint interim committee on the privatization of health and human services programs is established to study and identify health and human services programs that can be provided through a contract with a private service provider. The committee shall report its findings and recommend:

(1) five health and human services programs each with an annual budget of $5 million or more that can be provided through a contract with a private service provider; and

(2) five health and human services programs each with an annual budget of less than $5 million that can be provided through a contract with a private service provider.

(b) The joint interim committee may establish appropriate criteria for the study to accomplish the study's purpose. The study must include an examination of:

(1) a health and human services program's actual annual cost of providing services under the program; and

(2) the estimated cost of providing the same services if transferred to a private service provider.

(c) The comptroller shall assist the joint interim committee by performing an external audit of a health and human services program at the committee's request. The comptroller shall file a report of each audit with the joint interim committee.

(d) The joint interim committee shall be composed of six senators appointed by the lieutenant governor and six members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(e) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the joint interim committee members.

(f) The joint interim committee shall convene at the joint call of the co-chairs.

(g) The joint interim committee has all other powers and duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on administration.

(h) Not later than January 1, 2017, the joint interim committee shall report the committee's findings and recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, and each house and senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over health and human services. The joint interim committee shall include in its recommendations specific health and human services programs that can be provided through a contract with a private service provider.

(i) From the contingent expense fund of the senate and the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally, the members of the joint interim committee shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Act in accordance with the senate and house of representatives rules of procedure and the policies of the committees on administration. Other necessary expenses of operation shall be paid from the contingent expense fund of the senate and the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally.

SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The joint interim committee on the privatization of health and human services programs is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2017.

SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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.