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.