84R4334 LED-D
By: Sanford H.B. No. 2966
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an interim study regarding the identification of health
and human services programs that can be privatized.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The joint interim
committee on the privatization of health and human services
programs is established to study and identify health and human
services programs that can be provided through a contract with a
private service provider. The committee shall report its findings
and recommend:
(1) five health and human services programs each with
an annual budget of $5 million or more that can be provided through
a contract with a private service provider; and
(2) five health and human services programs each with
an annual budget of less than $5 million that can be provided
through a contract with a private service provider.
(b) The joint interim committee may establish appropriate
criteria for the study to accomplish the study's purpose. The study
must include an examination of:
(1) a health and human services program's actual
annual cost of providing services under the program; and
(2) the estimated cost of providing the same services
if transferred to a private service provider.
(c) The comptroller shall assist the joint interim
committee by performing an external audit of a health and human
services program at the committee's request. The comptroller shall
file a report of each audit with the joint interim committee.
(d) The joint interim committee shall be composed of six
senators appointed by the lieutenant governor and six members of
the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives.
(e) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the
joint interim committee members.
(f) The joint interim committee shall convene at the joint
call of the co-chairs.
(g) The joint interim committee has all other powers and
duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the
senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,
Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees
on administration.
(h) Not later than January 1, 2017, the joint interim
committee shall report the committee's findings and
recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, the governor, the executive commissioner
of the Health and Human Services Commission, and each house and
senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over health and
human services. The joint interim committee shall include in its
recommendations specific health and human services programs that
can be provided through a contract with a private service provider.
(i) From the contingent expense fund of the senate and the
contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally,
the members of the joint interim committee shall be reimbursed for
expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Act in
accordance with the senate and house of representatives rules of
procedure and the policies of the committees on administration.
Other necessary expenses of operation shall be paid from the
contingent expense fund of the senate and the contingent expense
fund of the house of representatives equally.
SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The joint interim
committee on the privatization of health and human services
programs is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2017.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.