TITLE 40.SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Chapter 12. SPECIAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Subchapter A. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

40 TAC §12.3

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts an amendment to §12.3, without changes to the proposed text published in the January 24, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 654) and will not be republished.

In 1996, DHS instituted a requirement that day care home sponsors maintain secondary business offices in each DHS region in which they sponsor day care homes. This was done at the request of day care home providers whose sponsoring organization's business office was often in a city far from the provider's day care home. In October 2000, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandated a number of program integrity initiatives and management standards for all CACFP contractors, including day care home sponsors. In light of these new standards and with the emergence of improved communication methods available to providers, DHS conducted a survey to determine whether the need for secondary offices still existed. The survey results concluded that the secondary office policy was an unnecessary business expense. DHS is therefore adopting this amendment to its CACFP rules in part to eliminate the requirement that day care home sponsors maintain secondary business offices in each DHS region in which they sponsor day care homes.

Justification for the amendment is also to implement a provision of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-224), as codified in 7 CFR §226.6(b)(11), requiring new sponsoring organizations of day care home providers or child or adult day care centers to demonstrate that they are serving an unmet need through their participation in the CACFP. USDA requires DHS to develop the criteria for what constitutes an unmet need. DHS determined unmet need is met when a sponsoring organization applying to participate in the CACFP demonstrates that the facilities it sponsors are currently not contracted to participate in the CACFP or have not contracted to participate during the 12 months before the sponsoring organization's application.

DHS received no comments regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Human Resources Code, Chapters 22 and 33, which authorizes DHS to administer public and nutritional assistance programs.

The amendment implements the Human Resources Code, §§22.0001-22.038 and §§33.001-33.027.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 5, 2003.

TRD-200301559

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: March 25, 2003

Proposal publication date: January 24, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Chapter 19. NURSING FACILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE AND MEDICAID CERTIFICATION

Subchapter C. NURSING FACILITY LICENSURE APPLICATION PROCESS

40 TAC §19.215

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts an amendment to §19.215, without changes to the proposed text published in the January 24, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 656).

Justification for the amendment is to conform rule language to current language in the Government Code, Chapter 2001, §2001.054(c)(2).

DHS received no comments regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242, which authorizes DHS to license and regulate convalescent and nursing homes and related institutions.

The amendment implements the Health and Safety Code, §§242.001-242.852

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 10, 2003.

TRD-200301641

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: May 1, 2003

Proposal publication date: January 24, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Subchapter T. ADMINISTRATION

40 TAC §19.1934

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts an amendment to §19.1934, without changes to the proposed text published in the January 24, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 657) and will not be republished.

Justification for the amendment is to comply with the Texas Education Code, §29.012, which requires DHS, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, and the Texas Youth Commission to develop and adopt a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning interagency coordination of special education services to students with disabilities in residential facilities. The agencies met and developed an MOU, in accordance with the Texas Education Code, that covers the minimum requirements for school districts and residential care facilities. The Texas Education Agency adopted the MOU in its rule base at 19 TAC §89.1115, which became effective August 6, 2002. DHS's amended §19.1934 adopts the MOU by reference.

DHS received no comments regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242, which authorizes DHS to license and regulate convalescent and nursing homes and related institutions, and under the Texas Education Code, §29.012.

The amendment implements the Health and Safety Code, §§242.001-242.852, and the Texas Education Code, §29.012.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 5, 2003.

TRD-200301581

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: May 1, 2003

Proposal publication date: January 24, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734