HBA-MPM S.B. 558 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 558
By: Madla
Public Health
4/23/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) estimates the costs
of drug and alcohol abuse in Texas to be $19.3 billion each year.  For the
fiscal year 2000, Texas devoted almost $800 million to substance abuse
prevention, intervention, treatment, and related law enforcement.  While
several state agencies currently address drug and alcohol-related
activities, Texas is in need of a better way to coordinate substance abuse
programs that could bring opportunities for cost savings and information
sharing.  Senate Bill 558 establishes the Drug Demand Reduction Advisory
Committee (committee) as a single source of information related to reducing
drug demand, and requires the committee to develop a statewide strategy to
reduce drug reducing demand. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 558 amends the Health and Safety Code to establish the Drug
Demand Reduction Advisory Committee (committee) to serve as a single source
of information for the governor, the legislature, and the public about
issues relating to reducing drug demand, including available prevention
programs and services. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the
committee's administration, membership, and duties.  The bill sets forth
the composition of the committee and requires a representative of the Texas
Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) to serve as the presiding
officer of the committee.  The bill requires the committee to develop a
statewide strategy to reduce drug demand that: 

 _incorporates multidisciplinary approaches using current empirical
research; 
 
 _includes performance-based measurement and accountability standards,
short-term objectives, and 10-year targets for reducing drug demand; 
 
 _coordinates to the extent possible the efforts of private sector entities
and local, state, and federal agencies including the Office of National
Drug Control Policy to reduce drug demand; and 
 
 _provides opportunities for representatives from the public and private
sectors to comment on the committee's activities and make recommendations
related to the strategy. 
 
The bill requires the committee to identify lead or contributing agencies
or offices that are required to implement the strategy, and requires the
committee to coordinate the implementation process.  The committee is
authorized to establish additional advisory committees composed of
representatives from governmental entities and the private sector to assist
the committee.  No later than January 15th of each odd-numbered year, the
committee is required to present to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
and the speaker of the house of representatives a report that states the
committee's progress in developing and  coordinating the strategy, the
status and funding of state programs relating to reducing drug demand, and
recommendations for legislation that addresses the issues involved in
reducing drug demand.     

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.