Budget
On Thursday, March 22, Senate Finance voted to send the final committee version of SB 1 to the full Senate. This version maintains Medicaid caseload cost growth at FY 18 forecasted levels, identifies roughly $400 million in Medicaid cost containment quality and efficiency measures, increases funding for CPS services by $430 million, and increases funding for mental health by $244 million. SB 1 is expected to be heard before the full Senate early next week.
Spotlight on Committees
House Human Services will meet on March 27 will meet to hear bills part of the continuing effort to support childcare services in the state, including HB 1542 relating to placement and HB 2124 relating to notification to federal agencies about abuse and neglect investigations, as well as other legislation related to payments and cost savings under Medicaid
House Public Health will meet on March 28 to consider twelve bills relating to public benefits for individuals released from jail, mental health services provision, and hearing aids, among other issues.
On March 27, Senate Health & Human Services will meet to hear a variety of bills surrounding long-term care in state facilities and other issues, including SB 924 relating to dispute resolutions for violations of health and safety standards and several bills related to administrative penalties.
Senate Health & Human Services will also meet on Wednesday, March 29 to hear Sunset (SB 224) and operations legislation (SB 81, SB 1924) relating to the Cancer Prevention and research Institute of Texas and other bills related to mental illness, childcare, prescription drug benefits, and Office of the Inspector General investigations.