BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 822

By: Nelson

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been suggested that the existing grant program to support community mental health programs that provide services and treatment to veterans and their families could better serve its purpose if certain statutory provisions were updated to better align the program with similar community grant programs. S.B. 822 seeks to make such an update by removing requirements for the administration of the program by a nonprofit or private entity and making related revisions.

 

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

S.B. 822 repeals Government Code provisions requiring the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to enter into an agreement with a qualified nonprofit or private entity to serve as the administrator of the grant program for supporting community mental health programs for veterans and their families and setting out the duties of that administering entity. The bill repeals provisions relating to the selection of such an entity to administer a certain associated pilot program.

 

S.B. 822 amends the Government Code to remove provisions relating to such an administering entity's duty to obtain or secure contributions to the grant program in a certain amount and to require HHSC instead to ensure that each grant recipient obtains or secures contributions to match awarded grants in amounts of money or other consideration as required by the bill. The bill requires HHSC to condition the provision of each grant on a potential grant recipient providing funds from non-state sources in a total amount less than or equal to the following proportions of the grant amount:

·         for services and treatment provided in a single county:

o   50 percent of the grant amount if the community mental health program to be supported by the grant provides services and treatment in a county with a population of less than 250,000; or

o   100 percent of the grant amount if the program makes that provision in a county with a population of 250,000 or more; and

·         for a community mental health program that provides services and treatment in more than one county:

o   50 percent of the grant amount, if the largest county in which the program provides services and treatment has a population of less than 250,000; or

o   100 percent of the grant amount if the largest such county has a population of 250,000 or more. 

 

S.B. 822 repeals Sections 531.0992(b) and (g), Government Code.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.