House and Senate Interim Charges Focus on Key Solutions

Appropriations Committee:   

• Monitor and oversee the implementation of appropriations bills and other relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature, including the following: 
  • SB 1 (87R), General Appropriations Act; 
  • HB 5 (87S2) (Foster care rates and additional grant funding) and SB8 (87S3) (ARPA Funds), relating to making supplemental appropriations and giving direction regarding appropriations; and  

• Evaluate the history of appropriations from General Revenue-Dedicated Accounts 5010 (Sexual Assault Fund) and 0469 (Crime Victims Compensation Fund). Consider whether revenue sources for these accounts are sufficient to maintain historical commitments to victims services grants  

• Monitor efforts by the Department of Family and Protective Services to implement Section 11, HB 5 (87S2), relating to foster care capacity improvement 

Human Services Committee:   

• Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:  
  • HB 3041, related to the implementation of the Family Preservation Services Pilot Program.  

• Evaluate current prevention and early intervention programs and make recommendations for improving the effectiveness of these programs in reducing child abuse and neglect.  
• Evaluate further action needed to improve the safety and quality of the foster care system, including preventing children in foster care from being without a placement and increasing recruitment of foster families. Identify methods to strengthen Child Protective Services processes and services, focusing on efforts for family preservation and eliminating fatalities within the foster care system. This evaluation should: 
  • Study the causes for children without placement;  
  • Assess the safety concerns for children without placement, including the use of out-of-state and temporary emergency placement for children without placement; injuries while in the care of Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) employees; and exposure to child sex trafficking; and  
  • Study how and why children without placement frequently enter the juvenile justice and adult criminal justice systems and the steps DFPS is taking to identify and prevent these instances.  

• Assess the quality and effectiveness of the DFPS IMPACT system for security, transparency, and accuracy. Review DFPS processes relating to the integrity of digital case management. Evaluate whether DFPS data collection adequately responds to child wellbeing indicators. 

Public Health Committee:   

• Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:  
  • HB 4, relating to the provision and delivery of telemedicine and telehealth services  

• Study current telemedicine trends by assessing and making recommendations related to standardizing required documentation healthcare providers must obtain for consent for treatment, data collection, sharing and retention schedules, and providing telemedicine medical services to certain cancer patients receiving pain management services and supportive palliative care.  

Finance Committee: 

• Federal Funds: Report on the state use of federal COVID-19 relief funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, the American Rescue Plan Act and other federal funds.  
• Mental Health Delivery: Examine the state mental health service delivery system. Study the state’s Comprehensive Plan for Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan and evaluate the existing state investments in mental health services. Review current forensic and civil mental health service waitlists and recommend ways to improve coordination and outcomes to reduce waitlists. Explore and report on options for additional mental health service capacity, including building state hospitals in the Panhandle and Rio Grande Valley areas. 

State Affairs Committee:  

• Human Trafficking: Examine opportunities and make recommendations to reduce the profitability of and demand for human trafficking in Texas. Determine ways to increase public awareness of the proliferation of human trafficking, as well as resources for victims and survivors. Monitor the implementation of House Bill 1540 (87th Legislature) and examine changes in arrest rates, judicial dispositions, and sentencing amongst offenders due to provisions of the legislation. Examine opportunities for attorneys to combat human trafficking in their local communities, including use of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, to generate revenue for local law enforcement officials combatting human trafficking. Make any other recommendations to further prevent human trafficking. 

Health and Human Services Committee:  

• Foster Care: Evaluate state investments in the child welfare system. Examine reasons for delayed implementation of past legislative reforms and any deficient agency performance metrics. Identify ways to continue to improve the child welfare system in Texas and consider other state models to ensure the health and well-being for children in state care.  
• Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation