HBA-CCH, MPM H.B. 2594 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2594
By: Chavez
Human Services
3/22/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 75th legislature authorized the establishment of an Internet site to
provide the public with information on available health and human services
throughout Texas.  The individual health and human services agencies have
each established separate sites.  With cooperation from the agencies, the
information could be coordinated and improved.  House Bill 2594 requires
the Health and Human Services Commission in cooperation with the Department
of Information Resources to establish and maintain, through the TexasOnline
project, an accessible and interactive Internet site that contains
information on each health and human services agency. 

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 2594 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human
Services Commission (HHSC), in cooperation with the Department of
Information Resources (department), to establish as soon as practicable
after the effective date of this Act and to maintain through the
TexasOnline project, a generally accessible and interactive Internet site
that contains information for the public regarding services and programs
provided or administered by each state health and human services agency
(agency).  The bill sets forth the information that must be included on the
site, including eligibility criteria and application forms for certain
public assistance programs.  The bill provides that the site must contain
the telephone number and, to the extent available, the electronic mail
address for each agency and local provider of health and human services and
be designed so that the public may submit questions and receive responses
electronically.  The site must be updated at least quarterly.  The bill
requires HHSC, in designing the site, to comply with any state standards
for Internet sites prescribed by the department or any other state agency.
The bill requires HHSC to ensure that the site does not contain
confidential information and that the design and applications comply with
generally acceptable standards for Internet accessibility for disabled
persons and contain appropriate controls for information security.  The
bill requires agencies, the Texas Information and Referral Network, and the
department to cooperate with HHSC to enable HHSC to perform its duties
regarding the site. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.