HBA-MPM S.B. 665 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 665
By: Moncrief
Human Services
4/4/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no statewide strategic plan in Texas to address the
provision of health and human services to children under the age of six.
Senate Bill 665 establishes the Office of Early Childhood Coordination to
promote community support for parents of all children under age six through
an integrated state and local-level decision-making process and to provide
for the seamless delivery of health and human services to these children. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of health and human
services in SECTION 1 (Section 531.286, Government Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 665 amends the Government Code to establish the Office of Early
Childhood Coordination (office) within the Health and Human Services
Commission (HHSC) for coordinating the delivery of early childhood
services.  The bill authorizes the commissioner of health and human
services (commissioner) to employ staff as needed to carry out the duties
of the office and sets forth the goals of the office.  No later than
January 1, 2003, the office is required to create and implement a statewide
strategic plan for the delivery of health and human services to children
younger than six years of age and in doing so to consider existing program
and models which serve this age group, attempt to maximize federal funds
and local existing infrastructure and funds, and provide for local
participation to the greatest extent possible.  The plan must address the
needs of children younger than six years of age who are disabled.  The bill
requires the office to identify: 

_gaps in early childhood services by functional and geographical areas; 

_state policies, rules, and service procedures that prevent or inhibit
children younger than six from accessing available services;  

_sources of funds for early childhood services; 

_opportunities for collaboration between the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
and health and human services agencies;  

_methods for coordinating the provision of early childhood services
provided by the Texas Head Start-State Collaboration Project, TEA, and the
Texas Workforce Commission; 

_quantifiable benchmarks for success within early childhood service
delivery; and  

_national best practices in early care and educational delivery models.

 The office is required to establish outreach efforts to communities and
ensure adequate communication lines that provide the office with
information about community-level efforts and communities with information
about available funds and programs.  The bill requires the office to make
recommendations to HHSC on strategies to ensure optimum collaboration and
coordination between state agencies and other community stakeholders, fill
geographical and functional gaps in early childhood services, and amend
state policies, rules, and service procedures that prevent or inhibit
children younger than six from accessing services. 

S.B. 665 requires the commissioner as soon as practicable on or after
September 1, 2001 to appoint to persons with a demonstrated interest in
early childhood development to an advisory committee to assist the office.
The advisory committee is required to meet and serve under rules
established by the commissioner, but is required to elect its own presiding
officers.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.