HBA-TBM H.B. 713 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 713
By: Wilson
Human Services
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, in 1998 children
under the age of 18 accounted for 25 percent of the urban homeless
population.  Austin's Community Partnership for the Homeless estimates that
one third of all homeless persons in Travis County are children.  House
Bill 713 provides for the establishment of residential living facilities
for children who are homeless because of a parent's incarceration or abuse
or neglect.   

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 713 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services (department) to establish or provide for
the establishment of residential living facilities for eligible children.
The bill authorizes the department to contract with another state agency or
political subdivision of the state, if necessary, to fulfill this
requirement.  To be eligible for admission to such a facility, a child must
be 12 weeks of age, separated from the child's parents due to a parent's
incarceration or abuse or neglect by a parent, and eligible for placement
in a foster home.  The bill authorizes the director of the department to
establish standards for the admission of other children.  The bill requires
the department to emphasize the needs and desires of the child in deciding
whether to admit the child.  The bill authorizes the department to collect
fees from the person or estate liable for the support of the child based on
ability to pay.  The bill requires the department to prescribe standards of
operation and performance for the facilities and, at least annually, to
inspect a facility.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.