Texas House Bill HCR255

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Introduced: 5/21/09
• Refer: 5/21/09
• Report Pass: 5/22/09

Caption

Approving the system-wide settlement agreement with the United State Department of Justice resolving certain investigations of state mental retardation facilities.

Impact

The resolution highlights the Texas legislative body's role in approving settlements that may require ongoing financial commitment from the state. This includes an acknowledgment that implementing the terms of the settlement will likely result in increased expenditures to improve care within state facilities. The bill emphasizes Texas's commitment to enhancing living conditions and health services for individuals residing in state facilities, thereby ensuring that the needs of vulnerable citizens are met in an effective manner.

Summary

HCR255 is a concurrent resolution that seeks legislative approval for a System-wide Settlement Agreement between the State of Texas and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). This agreement comes in response to investigations initiated by the DOJ under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) concerning the state mental retardation facilities operated by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The settlement aims to resolve various issues identified during these investigations, necessitating legislative consent due to its implications on state expenditures over future fiscal periods.

Contention

While the text does not focus heavily on points of contention, it implicitly raises issues surrounding the oversight of mental health services and state responsibilities. As the state has undergone scrutiny by the DOJ, there may be concerns regarding accountability in mental health care provision and whether the settlement leads to meaningful improvements or merely fulfills legal requirements. Furthermore, long-term commitments to funding required by the settlement could stir debate on budget priorities within state governance, particularly in relation to other essential services.