By: Schwertner S.B. No. 2214               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to state fiscal matters related to health and human   services and state agencies administering health and human services   programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.01.  This article applies to any state agency that   receives an appropriation under Article II of the General   Appropriations Act and to any program administered by any of those   agencies.          SECTION 1.02.  Notwithstanding any other statute of this   state, each state agency to which this article applies is   authorized to reduce or recover expenditures by:                (1)  consolidating any reports or publications the   agency is required to make and filing or delivering any of those   reports or publications exclusively by electronic means;                (2)  extending the effective period of any license,   permit, or registration the agency grants or administers;                (3)  entering into a contract with another governmental   entity or with a private vendor to carry out any of the agency's   duties;                (4)  adopting additional eligibility requirements   consistent with federal law for persons who receive benefits under   any law the agency administers to ensure that those benefits are   received by the most deserving persons consistent with the purposes   for which the benefits are provided, including under the following   laws:                      (A)  Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code (child   health plan program);                      (B)  Chapter 31, Human Resources Code (temporary   assistance for needy families program);                      (C)  Chapter 32, Human Resources Code (Medicaid   program);                      (D)  Chapter 33, Human Resources Code   (supplemental nutrition assistance and other nutritional   assistance programs); and                      (E)  Chapter 533, Government Code (Medicaid   managed care);                (5)  providing that any communication between the   agency and another person and any document required to be delivered   to or by the agency, including any application, notice, billing   statement, receipt, or certificate, may be made or delivered by   e-mail or through the Internet;                (6)  adopting and collecting fees or charges to cover   any costs the agency incurs in performing its lawful functions; and                (7)  modifying and streamlining processes used in:                      (A)  the conduct of eligibility determinations   for programs listed in Subdivision (4) of this subsection by or   under the direction of the Health and Human Services Commission;                      (B)  the provision of child and adult protective   services by the Department of Family and Protective Services;                      (C)  the provision of services for the aging and   disabled by the Health and Human Services Commission;                      (D)  the provision of services to children and   other persons with disabilities by the Health and Human Services   Commission; and                      (E)  the provision or administration of other   services provided or programs operated by the Health and Human   Services Commission or a health and human services agency, as   defined by Section 531.001, Government Code.   ARTICLE 2. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EMPLOYEES          SECTION 2.01.  An health and human services employee is not   entitled to an amount from the state for expenses, per diem, travel,   or salary that exceeds the amount authorized for those purposes by   the General Appropriations Act.          SECTION 2.02.  An health and human services employee is not   entitled to an amount from the state for a salary, a salary   supplement, office expenses or reimbursement of office expenses, or   travel that exceeds the amount authorized for those purposes by the   General Appropriations Act.   ARTICLE 3. REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES AND IMPOSITION OF CHARGES AND   COST-SAVING MEASURES SPECIFICALLY          Sec. 265.0042.  COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER   EDUCATION. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the Health and   Human Services Commission, on behalf of the department, shall enter   into agreements with institutions of higher education to conduct   efficacy reviews of any prevention and early intervention programs   that have not previously been evaluated for effectiveness through a   scientific research evaluation process.          (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, the department   shall collaborate with an institution of higher education to create   and track indicators of child well-being to determine the   effectiveness of prevention and early intervention services.          SECTION 3.03.  If before implementing any provision of this   article a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization   from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that   provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the   waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision   until the waiver or authorization is granted.   Article 4. PILOT PROGRAM PROPOSALS AND RULES          SECTION 4.01.  The commissioner of each state agency to   which this article applies may propose to the appropriate   legislative committee pilot programs that could be tested to   determine if the programs might produce long term fiscal benefits   to the state. The commissioner may propose rules necessary to   implement the pilot programs.   Article 5. EFFECTIVE DATE          SECTION 5.01.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.