BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4572

By: Rose

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As the Texas population ages, the demand for essential services and supports will increase. At the same time, the legislature has abolished the standalone Department of Aging and Disability Services and transferred its functions to the Health and Human Services Commission. The magnitude and timing of the projected growth of the over 65 population in Texas presents a unique opportunity for the state to shape its response. The Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council was established by the legislature in 2015 to provide a strategic statewide approach to behavioral health sciences. This council's core duties include implementing a five-year plan, developing annual expenditure proposals, and routinely publishing an updated inventory of state-funded behavioral health programs and services. There have been calls for the state to establish a similar coordinating council to ensure a strategic statewide approach to aging services throughout Texas. C.S.H.B. 4572 seeks to do so.

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

C.S.H.B. 4572 amends the Government Code to establish the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council to ensure a strategic statewide approach to interagency aging services. The bill sets out the council's composition and provides for its administration and quarterly meetings at the call of its presiding officer. The bill requires the council to do the following:

· develop and submit a five-year statewide interagency aging services strategic plan to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC);

· develop a biennial coordinated statewide interagency aging services expenditure proposal; and

· annually publish an updated inventory of state-funded interagency aging programs and services that includes a description of how those programs and services further the purpose of the strategic plan.

The bill authorizes the council to facilitate opportunities to increase collaboration for the effective expenditure of available federal and state funds for interagency aging services in Texas and to establish subcommittees as necessary to carry out the council's duties.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4572 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the original required that the council submit a five-year strategic plan to the executive commissioner of HHSC for approval, the substitute requires the council to develop and submit that plan to the executive commissioner, but does not require approval.

The substitute includes a specification not in the original that the council's establishment of subcommittees is as necessary.