HBA-NMO H.B. 3301 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3301 By: Coleman Public Health 3/25/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), through the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative (TIFI), has piloted projects which coordinate children's mental health funds across state and local agencies. H.B. 3301 requires HHSC to form a consortium to develop criteria for the expansion of TIFI pilot project to local communities and to implement that expansion. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis rulemaking authority expressly delegated to the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Sections 531.252 and 531.256, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 531, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter G, as follows: SUBCHAPTER G. DEVELOPING LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN Sec. 531.251. PILOT PROJECT CONSORTIUM; EXPANSION PLAN. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to form a consortium to develop criteria for the expansion of the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative (TIFI) pilot project, implement that expansion, and develop local mental health care systems in communities for minors who are or are at risk of receiving residential mental health services. Sets forth the composition of the consortium. (b) Requires HHSC and the consortium to develop guidelines for the delivery of mental health services to minors, establish a plan to expand TIFI so that it may operate in up to six communities, and identify appropriate sources of state and federal funding to finance mental health services under TIFI from a central fund for expansion communities. Sec. 531.252. PROPOSALS FOR EXPANSION COMMUNITIES. Requires HHSC, by rule, to establish a request-for-proposal process to select expansion communities to participate in TIFI. Requires HHSC and the consortium to develop criteria to evaluate proposals for selecting expansion communities to participate in the expanded initiative. Sets forth required criteria, including outcome goals. Sets forth that outcome criteria established under this section must be consistent with outcome measures used in evaluations of individualized children's services projects in other states. Sec. 531.253. SELECTION OF EXPANSION COMMUNITIES. Requires HHSC and the consortium to review proposals for expansion communities and approve participation of not more than six communities. Provides that the selected communities must be those that best meet the criteria developed in Section 531.252. Sec. 531.254. SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATION. Requires HHSC, the consortium, and the expansion committee to collaborate to develop and share technical assistance and training resources to aid communities in developing local systems for delivering mental health services to minors. Sec. 531.255. EVALUATION. Requires HHSC and the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to jointly monitor the progress of the expansion communities. Sets forth the evaluation process. Sec. 531.256. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH GRANTS. Requires HHSC to expand the TIFI pilot project so that on or before September 1, 2001, TIFI is able to award grants to community projects for mental health services for youth. Requires HHSC, by rule, to develop criteria for awarding grants under this section that will encourage a community to establish services and programs that suit the mental health services of minors of the community. Authorizes that grants be paid from the fund developed for TIFI. Authorizes HHSC to establish and identify money for related projects. Sec. 531.257. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRANT PROJECTS. Authorizes HHSC to provide technical assistance to a community that receives a grant under Section 531.256. Sec. 531.258. STATEWIDE EVALUATION SYSTEM. Requires HHSC to develop an evaluation system to measure outcomes of projects for services that are associated with TIFI. SECTION 2. Requires the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Youth Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas Juvenile Probation Commission to each transfer $30,000 to HHSC each fiscal year to finance TIFI. Requires HHSC to promote the participation of new communities in and projects for the initiative to attract matching funds and local participation. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.