HBA-MPM, CCH C.S.H.B. 2326 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2326
By: Kitchen
Human Services
5/15/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Interagency Council for Services for the Homeless (council) was created
in 1989 to coordinate and improve services and resources to homeless
individuals throughout Texas.  In 1991, the council recommended the
development of affordable housing and emergency shelters, better
coordination and delivery of mental health services, and other actions
taken to prevent homelessness.  The Sunset Advisory Commission recommends
that the council, now named the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless,
increase their visibility and accountability to better serve the homeless,
especially those with a chronic illness.  Creating a pilot program using a
case management approach could alleviate and help solve issues of
homelessness and chronic illnesses.   C.S.H.B. 2326 requires the council in
cooperation with the Health and Human Services Commission to develop a
pilot case management program for homeless individuals with chronic
illnesses. 

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

C.S.H.B. 2326 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Interagency
Council for the Homeless (council), in cooperation with the Health and
Human Services Commission, to develop a pilot case management program
(program) for homeless people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and
HIV/AIDS, and to administer the program in cooperation with relevant state
agencies. Using existing resources of the agencies composing the council,
the bill requires the staff of the council to select a county with a
population of more than 2.8 million in which to implement the program,
identify existing state agency services provided to homeless people with
chronic illness, and identify existing federal, state, county, and local
financial sources that may be available to fund the program.  The bill
requires council staff to create a program for not more than 75 homeless
people with chronic illnesses using existing financial and agency
resources.  The council is required to select through a competitive bidding
process a nonprofit entity to implement the program.  The program must
provide case management and existing health-related education services and
coordinate housing, medical, job training, and other necessary services for
program participants. 

C.S.H.B. 2326 requires the council to implement the program no later than
November 1, 2001.  The bill also requires the council to submit a report to
the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives no later than December 15 of each even-numbered year
regarding the program's effectiveness. The program expires September 1,
2005. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 


 COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2326 differs from the original by requiring the Texas Interagency
Council for the Homeless (council) to develop the pilot case management
program (program) in cooperation with the Health and Human Services
Commission.  The substitute specifies that no more than 75 homeless people
participate in the program and requires the council to select a nonprofit
entity to implement the program.  The bill removes the requirement that the
staff of the council make recommendations for streamlining the delivery of
services and filling the gaps in the services provided through the program.
The substitute provides that the program coordinate, rather than provide
access to, housing, medical, job training and other necessary services.
The substitute specifies that the program provide existing health-related
education services.  The substitute specifies that the council's report on
the program's effectiveness be submitted no later than December 15 of each
even-numbered year, rather than December 15, 2002. The substitute removes
provisions that specified the general subject matter of the report.  The
substitute extends the expiration date of the program from September 1,
2003 to September 1, 2005.