See below for information regarding the HHS Enterprise Transformation including appointments to the Legislative Oversight Commitee as well as a transition timeline.
Legislative Oversight Committee
Senate Bill 200 of the 84th Texas Legislature requires establishment of a Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee to help direct the HHS transformation. The committee is to be made up of 11 voting members – four members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker; and three public members appointed by the Governor. The Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member. All appointments to the oversight committee must be made by October 1, 2015.
As of September 3, 2015, the following appointments have been made:
Governor Greg Abbott appointments:
John D. Colyandro, Austin
Billy C. Hamilton, Austin
Heather Griffith Peterson, Austin
Speaker of House Joe Straus appointments:
State Rep. Four Price (Co-Chair), Amarillo
State Rep. Richard Raymond, Laredo
State Rep. Toni Rose, Dallas
State Rep. Cindy Burkett, Garland
HHS Transformation – Timeline
September 1, 2015
- Begin functional review/analysis.
- Begin work establishing a system-wide Office of the Ombudsman within HHSC.
- Transfer women’s health programs from DSHS to HHSC.
- Effective date for HHS advisory committees to be removed from statute.
October 1, 2015
- Appointments made by Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House to the legislative committee overseeing HHS Transformation.
Mid-October 2015
- Appointment of cross-functional workgroups responsible for developing recommended structural changes in the HHS organizational structure that will make the organization more functional, efficient and responsive.
November 1, 2015
- Deadline for publishing list of new or reestablished HHS advisory committees.
March 1, 2016
- Deadline for:
- HHSC to submit HHS Transformation transition plan to the legislative committee overseeing HHS Transformation.
- Adoption of rules for new or reestablished HHS advisory committees.
- Complete initial assessment and consolidation of hotlines and call centers.
September 1, 2016
- Deadline for transfer of:
- Some administrative and support functions from DARS, DADS, DFPS, and DSHS to HHSC as determined necessary by Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner.
- Select programs from DARS to the Texas Workforce Commission.
- Client services from DARS, DADS, and DSHS to HHSC.
- Prevention and early intervention services from HHSC and DSHS to DFPS.
- HHS Councils are abolished and new HHSC Executive Council is established.
September 1, 2017
- Deadline for transfer of:
- Other administrative and support functions from DADS, DFPS, and DSHS to HHSC as determined necessary by Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner.
- Remaining DADS programs (including operation of state supported living centers) to HHSC.
- All regulatory functions from DADS, DFPS, and DSHS to HHSC.
September 1, 2018
- Deadline for study assessing stand-alone agency status for DSHS and DFPS (under HHS system umbrella).