HBA-DMD H.B. 2471 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2471 By: Maxey Human Services 3/18/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Department of Human Services (department) has a "need based waiting list" of applicants for community care programs. This waiting list determines which applicant will be served first based on information provided by each applicant and then selects the applicants accordingly. This may cause applicants to overstate their needs in order to secure assistance as quickly as possible. H.B. 2471 requires the department to implement a waiting list which requires that applicants be selected based on the order in which their applications are received by the department. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 35, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 35.0031, as follows: Sec. 35.0031. WAITING LISTS. Requires the Texas Department of Human Services (department) to implement a waiting list of eligible applicants for each community care program supported under this chapter. Requires applicants, except as provided by the procedures and guidelines adopted by the department under Section 35.002(1), to be selected for participation in a program on the basis of the order in which the applications are received by the department. Section 35.002(1) relates to procedures and guidelines for determining eligibility standards relating to financial qualifications and the need for services and for determining eligibility criteria for selecting clients to receive assistance. SECTION 2.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.