HBA-MPM S.B. 159 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 159
By: Zaffirini
Human Services
4/6/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no state-funded program to encourage convalescent and
nursing facilities to address quality of life issues.  Administrative
penalties collected by the state from convalescent and nursing home
facilities are placed in the general treasury.  Senate Bill 159 establishes
a best practices/quality of life competitive grant program in order to
establish a model for the long-term care industry using money collected
from administrative penalties. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Human Services in
SECTION 1 (Section 242.405, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 159 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas
Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a best practices/quality of
life competitive grant program to pay part of the costs of a project
proposed by a convalescent or nursing home or related institution
(institution) that is designed to improve the quality of life for
institution residents and that could serve as a model of best practices for
the industry.  DHS is required to monitor the expenditure of grant money to
ensure that the money is being used for intended purposes.  The bill
authorizes the legislature to appropriate money collected for
administrative penalties to fund the grant program.   

The bill requires DHS to establish guidelines for the grant program by
rule, including guidelines that specify the procedures for submitting a
grant proposal, the criteria DHS will follow in evaluating proposals, and
the reports a grant recipient must file to allow DHS and the industry to
evaluate the feasibility and success of the project. 

The bill requires DHS to award each grant under a contract that may further
detail provisions regarding reporting and project monitoring.  DHS is
required to post a summary on its Internet site of best practices under
this program and advise the industry of the location of the site location. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.