BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1234
	By: Buckingham
	Health & Human Services
	5/31/2019
	Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 1234 would allow regional laundry service centers to establish reciprocal relationships with other public entities, such as a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital, to provide laundry services in the event of machine failure or other disruption of operations.

 

The Health and Human Services Commission operates regional laundry centers to address the unique and high-volume laundry needs at state hospitals and state supported living centers (SSLCs). The state hospitals and SSLCs rely on constant laundry operations. When these machines break or fail, which they occasionally do, it hampers operations at multiple campuses. Because of the extreme nature and volume of the laundry, finding a provider who is willing to take the work is often difficult and expensive.

 

To address this issue, S.B. 1234 would allow regional laundry service centers to establish reciprocal relationships with other public entities, such as a VA hospital, to provide laundry services in the event of machine failure or other disruption of operations, as well as to contract with these entities to provide them with similar services when necessary. It also includes a specific provision that would clearly authorize the Kerrville State Hospital to partner with the local mental health authority to provide similar services. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

S.B. 1234 amends current law relating to the provision of food service, laundry service, and lawn care to certain mental health facilities and state supported living centers.

 

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. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 551.008, as follows:

 

Sec. 551.008. REGIONAL LAUNDRY CENTERS. Authorizes a regional laundry center operated by the Health and Human Services Commission to provide laundry services to department facilities to contract with federal agencies, other state agencies, or local political subdivisions to provide or receive laundry services.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 551.009(c), Health and Safety Code, to require the local mental health authority to contract with Kerrville State Hospital to provide food service, laundry service, and lawn care to the local mental health authority operating a crisis stabilization unit on the grounds of the Kerrville State Hospital as provided by this section, rather than provide food service, laundry service, and lawn care.

 

SECTION 3. Requires a state agency affected by a provision of this Act to request a waiver or authorization from a federal agency if the state agency determines that such waiver or authorization is necessary for implementation of the provision, and authorizes the agency to delay implementation until the waiver or authorization is granted.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.

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