BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2581

By: Hull

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 In 2023, the 88th Texas Legislature enacted S.B. 24 to improve programs focused on pregnancy and family intervention, place them under one state agency, codify the former Alternatives to Abortion program and rename it as the Thriving Texas Families Program, and create several new requirements designed to improve the service provisions for pregnant women and families who may need help in finding resources. However, the bill author has informed the committee of room for improvement in measuring effective outcomes, focusing taxpayer funds on making the most difference for pregnant women, and determining gaps in services to better allocate resources. H.B. 2581 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Health and Human Services Commission to create a form for use by all network contractors and service providers in requesting payment for services provided through the Thriving Texas Families Program.

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

H.B. 2581 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a network contractor or service provider who requests payment for services provided through the Thriving Texas Families Program to submit the request on a form the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) prescribes. The bill requires HHSC, not later than November 1, 2025, to develop and make publicly available on HHSC's website the required form, which must include the following:

· an anonymized assigned number corresponding with an unduplicated client;

· the client's anonymized signature verifying the client was provided information and instruction on accessing the program's pregnancy-related resources and information web page on HHSC's website during each client interaction, including an in-person visit, continuous online interaction, and audio communication;

· the date, time, type, and location of each client interaction;

· the name of any employee who provided a service through the program; and

· an itemized list of each service, material item, or referral provided to an unduplicated client during each client interaction.

The bill establishes that a network contractor or service provider is not required to submit the form until December 1, 2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.