Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____________________ A PPROPRIATIONS
PPROPRIATIONS ACT
77 th Texas Legislature
Human Services Commission and a decrease of $479.9 million in All Funds, of which $205 million is
General Revenue Funds, for various Medicaid cost containment and savings efforts to be realized by the
Health and Human Services Commission.
Overall, full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions will increase by 194 in FY 2002 and increase by 262 in FY
2003 from fiscal year 2001 levels. The total number of FTE positions recommended for health and human
services agencies is 50,855 in FY 2002 and 50,923 in FY 2003. The increases are associated with
additional positions at the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and additional locally/federally
funded positions at the Department of Human Services.
Federal Funds increases include: $49.2 million for the TANF Program, $27.5 million for Nutrition
Assistance, $2.6 for Refugee Assistance, $0.3 million for Family Violence Prevention, and $5.2 million in
Compensation to Victims of Crime funding to expand Family Violence Services.
Specific Appropriations to Agencies
Provides the Department on Aging an increase of $12.3 million in Federal Funds for the National Caregiver
Support Program.
Provides a $76.1 million increase for Public Health programs and includes a $54.2 million Federal Funds
increase for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, a $6.2 million General Revenue Funds
increase in rebates for the Kidney Health Care and Children with Special Health Care Needs program, a
$0.5 million in General Revenue Funds increase to continue the Medically Needy Pilot Program, and a $8.8
million decrease in other federal grants, including the Abstinence Education grant and the Preventive
Health and Health Services Block Grant.
Provides the Health and Human Services Commission an overall increase of $15,488.5 million in All Funds,
of which $5,805.8 million is General Revenue Funds and $9,654.9 million is Federal Funds. Most of the
increase is associated with the transfer of Medicaid acute care strategies from the Department of Health.
Authorizes an increase of $20 million from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund for technology
grants to facilitate communication for persons with disabilities and an increase of $1.7 million for
telecommunications infrastructure relating to the Texas Information and Referral Network or the 2-1-1
telephone line development project.
Provides the Department of Human Services an overall increase of $1,284.0 million in All Funds.
Recommendations include $125.8 million for the Community Care Services strategy; $175.2 million for
caseload growth of approximately five percent per year in Medicaid nonwaiver community care,
annualization of Medicaid waiver caseloads, and 2001 costs; $44.3 million for increased client acuity;
$125.9 million to reduce Long-term Care interest lists for Community-based Alternatives, Community Living
Assistance and Support Services (CLASS), Deaf-Blind, Medically Dependent Children’s Program, and Inhome
and Family Support; $114.1 million for Community Care attendants salaries; and $5 million in
General Revenue Funds for in-home and family support to assist elderly and persons with disabilities to
maintain their independence.
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