HB555 - Relating to improvements to the Texas Information and Referral Network.

  89R1548 SCF-D     By: Bucy H.B. No. 555       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to improvements to the Texas Information and Referral   Network.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 526.0004, Government Code, as effective   April 1, 2025, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding   Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:          (a)  The Texas Information and Referral Network is   responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a   statewide information and referral network that integrates   existing community-based structures with state and local agencies.   The network must:                (1)  include information relating to transportation   services provided to clients of state and local agencies;                (2)  be capable of assisting with statewide disaster   response and emergency management, including through the use of   interstate agreements with out-of-state call centers to ensure   preparedness and responsiveness;                (3)  include technology capable of communicating with   clients of state and local agencies using one-way and two-way   electronic text messaging to:                       (A)     enhance client access to information and   referral services;                       (B)  decrease client wait times;                       (C)  improve customer service; and                       (D)     disseminate information to clients in a   timely manner ; [ and ]                (4)  include a publicly accessible Internet-based   system to provide real-time, searchable data about [ the location   and number of ] clients of state and local agencies using the system ,   including:                       (A)  the number of clients;                       (B)  the location of clients;                       (C)   [ and ] the types of requests the clients made ;   and                       (D)     aggregated, de-identified demographic   information regarding the clients and client households served by   the network, including, if the information is volunteered by the   clients after the clients have been given an opportunity to provide   informed and explicit consent:                             (i)     the gender, race, and ethnicity of each   client; and                             (ii)     whether the client or a member of the   client's household is:                                   (a)  a veteran;                                   (b)     involved in the criminal justice   system;                                   (c)  pregnant; or                                   (d)     the caregiver to a child who is   five years of age or younger or a kinship caregiver;                 (5)     use a standardized screening tool to identify the   nonmedical drivers of health for all clients who provide informed   and explicit consent to be screened using the screening tool;                 (6)     provide enhanced navigation services under a level   of care three (LOC-3) as prescribed by the Department of State   Health Services' Texas Resilience and Recovery Utilization   Management Guidelines in order to:                       (A)  better address complex client needs; and                       (B)  collaborate with community partners;                 (7)     be capable of providing closed-loop referrals to   support clients and track referral outcomes;                 (8)     exchange resource data with external partners,   including vendors, through data sharing agreements for the purposes   of:                       (A)  connecting clients to a requested service;                       (B)  addressing nonmedical drivers of health; and                       (C)     decreasing redundancies in the health and   human services system;                 (9)     comply with all applicable state and federal laws   relating to protecting the privacy of each client's health and   personal information, including the Health Insurance Portability   and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.);                 (10)     be part of a national repository of information   and referral programs and services that provides the most updated   information about programs and services available at the local,   regional, state, and national levels; and                 (11)     be capable of providing backup information and   referrals during a statewide disaster or system malfunction .           (f)     Health care systems and managed care organizations may   partner and enter into agreements with the commission and area   information centers to share data using the network to:                 (1)  facilitate client care coordination; and                 (2)     address nonmedical drivers of health, including   housing, transportation, food, and financial assistance programs.           (g)     Not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year,   the commission shall:                 (1)     prepare and submit a report to the governor, the   lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of   representatives that:                       (A)     summarizes the network's operations,   including the effectiveness of the network and any improvements   made to the network, during the preceding two state fiscal years;                       (B)     identifies existing needs and gaps in   services in communities in this state that could be addressed   through additional improvements to the network; and                       (C)     provides recommendations for improving the   network, including recommendations for improving data privacy and   client experience; and                 (2)  make the report publicly available on:                       (A)  the commission's Internet website; and                       (B)     the network Internet website established   under Section 526.0005.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 526, Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 526.00041 to   read as follows:           Sec.   526.00041.     AREA INFORMATION CENTERS:     ACCREDITATION   REQUIRED. An area information center that contracts with the   commission to provide network operations must be accredited by a   nationally recognized accreditation organization.          SECTION 3.  Sections 526.0005(a) and (b), Government Code,   as effective April 1, 2025, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The network may develop an Internet website to provide   information to the public regarding the health and human services   provided by public or private entities throughout this state.   An   Internet website developed under this section must be user-friendly   and regularly updated to ensure that the website's interface   supports the navigation needs of the website's users.          (b)  The material on the network Internet website must be:                (1)  geographically indexed, including by type of   service provided within each geographic area; [ and ]                (2)  designed to inform an individual about the health   and human services provided in the area in which the individual   lives ; and                 (3)     organized in such a way that the public can search   and navigate through the website with ease .          SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act   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.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.