BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1234

By: Buckingham

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) operates regional laundry centers to address the unique and high-volume laundry needs at state hospitals and state-supported living centers. Because of the extreme nature and volume of the laundry produced by similar facilities operated by other governmental entities, finding a provider who is willing to take the work is often difficult and expensive. To address this issue, S.B. 1234 seeks to authorize an HHSC regional laundry service to contract with other agencies to provide or receive laundry services.

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. 1234 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a regional laundry center operated by the Health and Human Services Commission to provide laundry services to Department of State Health Services facilities to contract with federal agencies, other state agencies, or local political subdivisions to provide or receive laundry services. The bill revises the requirement for the Hill Country local mental health authority to contract with Kerrville State Hospital to provide food service, laundry service, and lawn care to require that those services be provided to the local mental health authority operating a crisis stabilization unit on the hospital's grounds.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

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