HBA-MPM S.B. 36 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 36
By: Zaffirini
Human Services
3/2/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Health and human services caseworkers in Texas may not be aware of or
knowledgeable about all programs and services available for children
through other state agencies.  Senate Bill 36 establishes joint training
for health and human services caseworkers to increase their awareness and
knowledge of services available through their own and other agencies. 

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

Senate Bill 36 amends the Government Code to require the commissioner of
health and human services to provide for joint training for health and
human services caseworkers whose clients are children, including
caseworkers employed by the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of
Human Services, and the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation, a local mental health authority, or a local mental retardation
authority.  The bill specifies that the training must be designed to
increase the caseworker's knowledge and awareness of the services available
to children at each health and human services agency or local mental health
or mental retardation authority, including Medicaid long-term care waiver
programs and services.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.