Bill

HB 550

84(R) - 2015
House Human Services
House Human Services
Health & Human Services

Companion Bill

SB 219

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Four Price

Co-Author(s)

Cindy Burkett
Harold Dutton Jr.
Larry Gonzales
Richard Raymond

Bill Caption

Relating to the provision of health and human services in this state, including the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission and other state agencies, and the licensing of certain health professionals.

Fiscal Notes

No fiscal implication to the State or units of local government is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

The bill amends statutory language to reflect a respectful classification of persons with disabilities. It also updates statutory language to reflect the rulemaking authority granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). A great deal of statutory language is outdated, refers to entities that are defunct or no longer exist, and is thus confusing to legislators and to the average citizen. This legislation would clean up, modernize, and standardize legislative language to make the code more up to date and understandable for everyone. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 550 and its senate companion SB 219 are designed to clarify and update the statutory language regarding the provision and administration of health and human services in Texas. The likely outcome of this legislation is that the health and human services code would be more understandable to lawmakers and the general public.  While there is a clear public benefit to the increased transparency that this legislation would likely bring, there is no tangible connection with the liberty principles against which we evaluate legislation. In our view this neither grows nor shrinks government; it neither adds nor reduces the regulatory burden under which Texans live. Therefore, we remain neutral on this bill.

For an extensive and in-depth policy analysis of this bill, interested parties may wish to read the report provided by the Texas Public Policy Foundation which testified in support of this legislation. Click here to view the report by TPPF's John Davidson.

Organizations Supporting

Texas Public Policy Foundation