HBA-MPA H.B. 822 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 822
By: Maxey
Human Services
2/11/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

All Texas counties are responsible for a number of functions such as
administering county finances; recording vital statistics; holding
elections; preserving law and order; administering justice through the
courts; building and maintaining county roads; and providing health and
welfare services.  While county governments have similar basic
responsibilities, their roles vary considerably, largely due to their
relative population.  Six Texas counties account for 40 percent of the
state's population. Such highly populated, heavily urbanized counties
require an extensive array of social services such as health and welfare
programs, which simply are not necessary or feasible in smaller counties.
These services are eligible for a variety of federal funding.   

H.B. 822 establishes a task force of state agencies and county officials to
identify and remedy problems in local government, and to determine how they
might work together to ensure that counties receive the maximum federal
reimbursement for the services they provide, so that local taxpayers aren't
paying more than they should for these services.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. (a) Provides for creation of a task force on federal
reimbursement to counties, to be composed of the comptroller, as presiding
officer, three county officials appointed by the governor, three county
officials appointed by the lieutenant governor, three county officials
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, three county
officials appointed by the comptroller, and one representative from each of
eight specified state agencies, appointed by its governing body. 

(b) Requires the task force to study the changes needed to increase
reimbursement to county government; identify ways to increase the
reimbursement the federal government pays for the indirect costs that
counties incur in administering aid programs; and identify methods of
training employees on ways to increase federal reimbursement. 

(c) Requires the task force to report on its findings to the 77th
Legislature, not later than January 15, 2001. 
 
(d) Requires the state agencies represented on the task force to provide
staff support to the task force. 

(e) Provides that this Act expires February 1, 2001.

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date: upon passage.