Bill Text: TX HB2966 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 2966 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to an interim study regarding the identification of health and human services programs that can be privatized.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-19 - Referred to Human Services [HB2966 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2966-Introduced.html

	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.