BILL ANALYSIS

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In December 2020, the Harris County Commissioners Court approved a name change for the Harris County Board of Protective Services for Children and Adults in order to more accurately reflect the work that is being carried out by the board. In addition to the name change, statutory changes are needed to allow for certain funds to be used to assist eligible adults with disabilities and eligible elderly persons. H.B. 2091 seeks to provide for these changes by amending provisions governing the board.

H.B. 2091 amends current law relating to the redesignation and authority of the Harris County Board of Protective Services for Children and Adults.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 152.1073, Human Resources Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 152.1073. HARRIS COUNTY BOARD OF RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 152.1073(a)(1), Human Resources Code, to redefine "board" for this section.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 152.1073, Human Resources Code, by amending Subsections (g) and (h) and adding Subsection (h-1), as follows:

(g) Authorizes the Harris County Board of Resources for Children and Adults (board), in addition to the authority granted to the board by the commissioners court, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), rather than by the commissioners court and the Texas Department of Human Services, to:

(1) disburse funds from sources other than the commissioners court, HHSC, and DFPS to benefit children, eligible adults with disabilities, and eligible elderly persons under this section, rather than to benefit children under this section, and to provide care, protection, evaluation, training, treatment, education, and recreation to those persons. Makes conforming changes;

(2) makes no changes to this subdivision;

(3) accept a gift or grant of real or personal property or accept support under or an interest in a trust to benefit persons described by Subdivision (1), rather than to benefit children under this section, and hold the gift or grant directly or in trust;

(4) makes conforming changes to this subdivision;

(5) accept and disburse as provided by Subdivision (1) fees and contributions from parents, guardians, and relatives of persons described by that subdivision who meet certain requirements, including persons who are in the county guardianship program, in the county representative payee program, or receiving services from the county Senior Justice Assessment Center;

(6) account for and spend funds the board receives as fees, contributions, payments made by guardians, or payments made to benefit a person described by Subdivision (1) who is in the board's or the county's legal custody, rather than the board's legal custody; and

(7) and (8) makes conforming changes to these subdivisions.

Makes conforming changes.

(h) Authorizes the director of the board or an assistant to, among other actions, apply for and disburse the funds to provide special items of support for children, eligible adults with disabilities, and eligible elderly persons under this section, rather than support for children under this section, or to pay general administrative expenses relating to services under this section.

(h-1) Authorizes the board to collaborate with state agencies to provide services for eligible adults with disabilities and eligible elderly persons who are residents of the county, who have been exploited, abused, or neglected, or who may be in need of a guardianship or assistance from a representative payee.

SECTION 4. Provides that on the effective date of this Act, the Harris County Board of Protective Services for Children and Adults is redesignated as the Harris County Board of Resources for Children and Adults.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.