By: Walle, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 2330
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2019;
April 24, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations; May 6, 2019, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 6, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study of an intake system and state case management
system for state and federal disaster assistance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Division" means the Texas Division of Emergency
Management.
(b) The commission and the division shall conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of developing:
(1) a single intake form that would compile all
information needed to obtain disaster assistance from multiple
state and federal programs for an individual who needs assistance
as a result of a disaster;
(2) an automated intake system for collecting the
information; and
(3) a state case management system for disaster
assistance, administered by the commission, that is similar to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency case management system and
includes contracting with nonprofit vendors to hire caseworkers and
provide case management services.
(c) The commission and the division shall coordinate with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate state
and federal agencies to conduct the study under Subsection (b) of
this section. The commission and the division must determine:
(1) whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency
and other appropriate state and federal agencies will accept the
single intake form;
(2) the cost of developing the single intake form and
the cost of developing and maintaining the automated intake system;
and
(3) the cost of developing and maintaining a state
case management system and the extent to which federal
reimbursement is available.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2020, the commission and the
division shall prepare and submit a written report to the
legislature containing the findings of the study conducted under
Subsection (b) of this section and any recommendations to the
legislature.
(e) The commission and the division may implement the single
intake form, automated intake system, and state case management
system if the commission and the division determine, based on the
study conducted under Subsection (b) of this section, that doing so
will result in no additional cost to the state.
SECTION 2. This Act expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. 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, 2019.
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