Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
A supplemental appropriations bill - Part 2
A Blog about 88th Legislature Laws
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of 88th Legislature Laws
The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I am currently posting bills that took effect immediately - those bills total 336. I am currently posting regarding larger bills, so each blog covers a single bill.
Blog Summary
SB 30 Part 2 This blog deals with supplemental and reduction in appropriations for Health and Human ServicesA supplemental appropriations bill - Part 2
Published: 2024-07-24
SB Part 2
Supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations for Health and Human Services
The appropriation of $2,525,100,000 (over $2.5 BILLION) for the purpose of Medicaid client services. Also $4,700,000,000 ($4.7 BILLION) from federal funds.
The appropriation of $2,154,375,606 (over $2.154 BILLION) for the purpose of the following:
- $33,600,000 ($33.6 million) for Uvalde Behavioral Health Campus;
- $21,400,000 ($21.4 million) for Strategy L.1.2, Information Technology Capital Projects Oversight & Program Support
- $101,890,000 ($101.89 million) for construction funding for the 200 bed adult unit at the new state hospital in Dallas, with at least 75% of beds for forensic purposes;
- State Hospitals Electronic Health Record System upgrade with $38,772,184 (over $38 million) for Information Technology Capital Projects oversight for electronic health record system with upgrade and $100,870 with $48,206 of federal funds for Central Program Support for electronic health record system upgrade;
- $50,000,000 ($50 million) for deferred maintenance needs for state facilities;
- $14,000,000 ($14 million) for emergency repairs for state facilities;
- $121,000,000 ($121 million) for a 50 bed state hospital maximum security facilities on existing state supported living center campus in Lubbock;
- $15,000,000 ($15 million) to rehabilitate the Alamo Unit at the San Antonio State Hospital campus into a 40 bed state hospital maximum security facility;
- $159,000,000 ($159 million) to construct a 75 bed state hospital in Amarillo, with at least 50 forensic beds;
- $120,000,000 ($120 million) to construct a 50 bed state hospital with maximum security in Rio Grande Valley;
- $573,000,000 ($573 million) to construct a 250 bed replacement campus for the Terrell State Hospital, including 50 maximum security beds, 150 forensic beds, 35 adolescent beds, and 25 civil beds;
- $452,000,000 ($452 million) to construct a 200 bed replacement for North Texas State Hospital - Wichita Falls, including 24 maximum security beds, 136 forensic beds, 24 adolescent beds, and 16 civil beds;
- $50,000,000 ($50 million) for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition and initial construction of a new 50 bed El Paso State Hospital with 50% of the beds to be forensic;
- $45,000,000 ($45 million) to construct 30 additional beds at the Sunrise Canyon facility in Lubbock with at least 50 % of the beds having forensic capacity;
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$100,000,000 ($100 million) to establish a one-time community mental health program for county-based collaboratives that:
- may be used to construct jail diversion facilities, step-down facilities, permanent supportive housing, crisis stablization units, and crisis respite units but not office space; and
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there must be a local match based upon county population such that;
- a population of less than 100,000 must match at 25%;
- a population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000 must match at 50%;
- a population of over 250,000 must match at 100%;
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$175,000,000 ($175 million) to establish a one-time grant program to construct or expand mental health inpatient facility to have at least 50% forensic capacity, using only donated land, to increase inpatient bed availability for forensic patients
- $85,000,000 ($85 million) for construction up to 100 inpatient beds by hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley region that are a licensed state hospital, have Level 1 trauma designation, in a count of a population of at least 300,000, and have fewer than 100 licensed psychiatric beds;
- $50,000,000 ($50 million) for construction of no more than 100 inpatient beds by Montgomery County to expand the existing Montgomery County Mental Health Facility;
- $40,000,000 ($40 million) for construction of up to 60 inpatient beds in Victoria County;
- $4,712,356 (over $4.7 million) for necessary enhancement in Child Care Licensing Automated Support Systems
- $64,000,000 ($64 million) to construct 72 beds with 36 forensic beds and 36 civil beds at the Baptist Hospital in Beaumont;
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$15,852,990 (over $15.8 million) for a one-time cihldren's hospital construction grant program
- may only be used to construct inpatient mental health beds for children; and
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there must be a local match based upon county population such that;
- a population of less than 100,000 must match at 25%;
- a population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000 must match at 50%;
- a population of over 250,000 must match at 100%;
The appropriation of $86,700,000 ($86.7 million) for the purose of constructing a 100 bed comprehensive behavioral center to serve the Permain Basin region. It must have 40 forensic beds included.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services may transfer up to $29,000,000 ($29 million) from federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
The appropriation of $250,000 for the purpose of paying for information technology costs for the collection of children's advocacy centers of information from state agencies.
The appropriation of $40,000,000 ($40 million) for the purpose of the Federally QualifiedHealth Center Incubator Program.
The appropriation of $50,000,000 ($50 million) for the purpose of closing out COVID-19 response costs not reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Department of State Health Services may use $5,000,000 ($5 million) appropriated for newborn screening preservation in the following manner. $3,000,000 ($3 million) for repairing and rehabilitating the department's laboratory building. $2,000,000 ($2 million) for the purpose of purchasing laboratory equipment.
The appropriation of $25,000,000 ($25 million) for the purpose of pregnancy support services as alternates to abortion.
Health and Human Services may use money appropriated for Goal A, Medicaid Client Services to maintain the emergency add-on reimbursement rate increase for nursing facilities implemented for COVID-10 public health emergency.
The appropriation of $1,000,000 ($1 million) for the purpose of to continue and expand Tx DFPS (family and protective services) contract that provides connecting technology for children and families in Texas. The technology must include providing community partners the opportunities to address the needs of children and families in their community.
The appropriation of $1,000,000 ($1 million) for the purpose of awarding a grant that provides low-cost preventative and primary medical, dental, diagnostic, specialty, and children's health services to indigent community in Houston area.
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