BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1021
85R8598 LED-D	By: Nelson
	Health & Human Services
	4/13/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 1021 adds a new section to 531.251, Government Code, to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to evaluate and make recommendations to the Transition Legislative Oversight Committee as to whether each remaining statutory advisory committee that considers issues related to the health and human services system and is administratively attached to HHSC should be reestablished in rule, consolidated, and/or permanently discontinued.

S.B. 1021 also restores Section 531.251, Government Code, to correct a drafting error from S.B. 200, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, and re-create the Texas System of Care Consortium framework and functions in statute.

S.B. 1021 will continue streamlining the process for public input through advisory committees at HHSC.

As proposed, S.B. 1021 amends current law relating to a report on the consolidation of the health and human services system, including advisory committees within the system, and the re-creation of the Texas system of care framework.

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. Reenacts Section 531.251, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 531.251. TEXAS SYSTEM CARE FRAMEWORK. (a) Defines "minor," "serious emotional disturbance," and "system of care framework."

(b) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to implement a system of care framework to develop local mental health systems of care in communities for minors who are receiving residential mental health services and supports or inpatient mental health hospitalization, have or are at risk of developing a serious emotional disturbance, or are at risk of developing a serious emotional disturbance, or are at risk of being removed from the minor's home and placed in a more restrictive environment to receive mental health services and supports, including an inpatient mental health hospital, a residential treatment facility, or a facility or program operated by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or an agency that is part of the juvenile justice system.

(c) Requires HHSC to:

(1) maintain a comprehensive plan for the delivery of mental health services and support to a minor and a minor's family using a system of care framework, including certain best practices;

(2) enter memoranda of understanding with the Department of State Health Services, DFPS, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments that specify the roles and responsibilities of each agency in implementing the comprehensive plan described by Subdivision (1);

(3) identify appropriate local, state, and federal funding sources to finance infrastructure and mental health services and support needed to support state and local system of care framework efforts;

(4) develop an evaluation system to measure cross-system performance and outcomes of state and local system of care framework efforts; and

(5) in implementing the provisions of this section, consult with stakeholders, including minors who have or are at risk of developing a serious emotional disturbance or young adults who received mental health services and support as a minor with or at risk of developing a serious emotional disturbance; and family members of those minors or young adults.

SECTION 2. Requires the executive commissioner of HHSC, not later than July 31, 2018, to submit to the Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee a report that includes the latest information available on HHSC's progress in transferring and consolidating the administrative support services functions of the health and human services system as mandated by Subchapter A-1 (Consolidation of Health and Human Services System), Chapter 531 (Health and Human Services Commission), Government Code, and recommendations on whether to abolish each statutory advisory committee that considers issues related to the health and human services system, and, for an advisory committee for which abolishment is recommended, whether to reestablish the advisory committee by rule, consolidate the advisory committee with another advisory committee, or permanently discontinue the advisory committee in any form.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or by September 1, 2017.