BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3353

By: Coleman

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that providing peer support services to the family or primary caregiver of a child who has a serious emotional disturbance would positively impact the child's resilience and recovery and assist families in successfully navigating systems of care. C.S.H.B. 3353 seeks to achieve these goals by providing for certified family partners to deliver peer support services to the family or primary caregiver of certain children with serious emotional disturbance.

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. 3353 amends the Government Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission by rule to establish training, certification, and supervision requirements for a person to be certified as a family partner and, as a certified family partner, to provide peer support services to the family or primary caregiver of a child not younger than three years of age and not older than 17 years of age who has a serious emotional disturbance. The bill requires the executive commissioner by rule to define the scope of peer support services a certified family partner may provide in a manner that distinguishes other services the provision of which requires licensure under another provision of law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3353 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 531, Government Code, is amended.	SECTION 1. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 2.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-2) to read as follows: (c-2)  To the extent permitted by federal law, the executive commissioner, in establishing standards under Subsection (c), may include the provision of peer support services by a certified family partner in the scope of services provided under the medical assistance program to a child who is eligible for assistance, is not younger than three years old and not older than 17 years old, and has a serious emotional disturbance.  In this subsection, "certified family partner" means a person certified as a family partner under rules adopted under Section 531.09992, Government Code.	No equivalent provision.
SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules as required by Section 531.09992, Government Code, as added by this Act.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.	No equivalent provision.
SECTION 5.  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, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.