BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1758

By: White

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Substance use disorder is a public health crisis that significantly impacts rural communities in Texas. Reports indicate that drug overdose deaths are rising in rural communities across the country, which is especially concerning for Texas, as the state includes a large rural population. It has been noted that treatment facilities for the disorder are uncommon in rural areas as these communities lack recovery supports and supportive resources. There is concern that as a consequence of inadequate resources large numbers of Texans permanently migrate to large metropolitan areas in order to receive the necessary care. H.B. 1758 seeks to provide a comprehensive and sustainable program that mobilizes resources within and outside of the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from substance use disorder for individuals and their affected family members for these underserved areas.

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 3 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1758 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and operate a grant program to award grants to recovery community organizations to:

· establish a network of five such organizations in geographical areas throughout Texas to provide services in one or more counties with populations of not more than 100,000;

· assist each organization in the network in developing a structure of governance that aligns with national best practice standards for substance use recovery services; and

· assist each organization in the network in developing a strategic plan that includes specified components.

The bill defines "recovery community organization" as a nonprofit organization that mobilizes resources inside and outside of a local community to increase the prevalence and quality of long‑term recovery for persons with substance use disorder and their family members and that is wholly or partly governed by members of the local community, at least 40 percent of whom identify as a person recovering from a substance use disorder and at least 40 percent of whom identify as an affected family member of a person recovering from such a disorder.

H.B. 1758 sets out grant contract requirements and authorizes HHSC to solicit and accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source to administer or finance the grant program, in addition to money appropriated by the legislature. The bill requires the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules as necessary to implement the grant program.

H.B. 1758 requires certain state agencies to identify available resources under the agency's control that may be used to support and sustain recovery community organizations throughout Texas and, not later than September 1, 2020, to prepare and submit to the legislature a written report that outlines the available resources identified by the agency.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.