Sec. 531.00553. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES. (a) In this section, the term "administrative support services" includes strategic planning and evaluation, audit, legal, human resources, information resources, purchasing, contracting, financial management, and accounting services.

(b) Subject to Subsection (c), the executive commissioner shall plan and implement an efficient and effective centralized system of administrative support services for the health and human services system and the Department of Family and Protective Services, as applicable. The performance of administrative support services for the health and human services system is the responsibility of the commission.

(c) The executive commissioner shall plan and implement the centralized system of administrative support services in accordance with the following principles and requirements:

(1) the executive commissioner shall consult with the commissioner of each agency and with the director of each division within the health and human services system to ensure the commission is responsive to and addresses agency or division needs;

(2) consolidation of staff providing the support services must be done in a manner that ensures each agency or division within the health and human services system that loses staff as a result of the centralization of support services has adequate resources to carry out functions of the agency or division, as appropriate; and

(3) the commission and each agency or division within the health and human services system shall, as appropriate, enter into a memorandum of understanding or other written agreement for the purpose of ensuring accountability for the provision of administrative services by clearly detailing:

(A) the responsibilities of each agency or division and the commission;

(B) the points of contact for each agency or division and the commission;

(C) the transfer of personnel among each agency or division and the commission;

(D) the budgetary effect the agreement has on each agency or division and the commission; and

(E) any other item determined by the executive commissioner to be critical for maintaining accountability.

(d) The memorandum of understanding or other agreement required under Subsection (c), if appropriate, may be combined with the memorandum of understanding required under Section 531.0055(k).

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 837 (S.B. 200), Sec. 1.06, eff. September 1, 2015.

Amended by:

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 316 (H.B. 5), Sec. 23, eff. September 1, 2017.