HBA-MPM H.B. 1097 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1097
By: Chavez
Human Services
2/14/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Ongoing changes to guidelines and regulations in certain health and human
services programs has made it difficult for Health and Human Services
Commission (HHSC) staff and program contractors to properly determine the
eligibility of certain qualified immigrants for health and human services.
This lack of periodic training may cause some legal immigrants to be denied
benefits for which they are eligible.  House Bill 1097 requires periodic
training for staff who determine eligibility and for contractors who
provide health and human services programs. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1097 amends the Government Code to provide that the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC) shall require the Texas Department of
Health (TDH) and the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop
and implement programs to provide periodic training regarding the
eligibility of a qualified alien, as defined under federal law, for
assistance through: 

 _the state child health program (CHIP);

 _the Medicaid program;

 _programs operated by the Bureau of Community Oriented Primary Care at TDH;

 _the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children; and 

 _programs funded under the federal Maternal and Child Health Services
Block Grant. 

The bill requires HHSC to ensure that materials developed for the training
programs are accurate, comprehensive, and consistent.  The bill requires
each agency required to provide training to require staff members who
determine eligibility for the programs specified in this bill, and persons
with whom the agency contracts to provide services under those programs to
participate in the training. 

The bill requires TDH and DHS to conduct the initial training required by
this bill no later than August 31, 2002. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.