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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of subcommittees within the Texas |
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Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee to study maternal |
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mortality. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Sections 34.022, 34.023, and 34.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.022. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MATERNAL HEALTH DISPARITIES. |
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(a) In this section, "subcommittee" means the subcommittee on |
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maternal health disparities established under this section. |
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(b) The department and the review committee shall |
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establish, within the review committee, a subcommittee on maternal |
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health disparities to: |
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(1) study maternal mortality rates among women in this |
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state; and |
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(2) develop and provide recommendations to the |
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department and the review committee on improving maternal health |
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outcomes. |
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(c) The subcommittee is composed of a number of members who |
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meet appropriate qualifications as determined by the department and |
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review committee. |
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(d) A member of the subcommittee serves at the pleasure of |
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the department and the review committee. |
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(e) The members of the subcommittee shall elect a presiding |
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officer from among the membership of the subcommittee. |
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(f) The subcommittee may accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any source to carry out the subcommittee's duties |
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imposed under this section. |
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(g) The subcommittee is abolished and this section expires |
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September 1, 2031. |
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Sec. 34.023. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MATERNAL HEALTH DISPARITIES |
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FOR BLACK WOMEN. (a) In this section, "subcommittee" means the |
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subcommittee on maternal health disparities for black women |
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established under this section. |
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(b) The department and the review committee shall |
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establish, within the review committee, a subcommittee on maternal |
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health disparities for black women to: |
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(1) study maternal mortality rates for black women in |
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this state and any related disparities; and |
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(2) develop and provide recommendations to the |
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department and the review committee on improving maternal health |
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outcomes among black women in this state. |
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(c) The subcommittee is composed of 11 members appointed by |
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the department and the review committee as follows: |
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(1) three licensed obstetricians or gynecologists |
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certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, each |
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with 15 or more years of experience in either field and a patient |
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base consisting of not less than 25 percent of individuals who are |
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members of a racial minority; |
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(2) one primary care physician with 15 or more years of |
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experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health; |
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(3) one surgeon with 15 or more years of experience in |
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that field and whose expertise is in maternal health; |
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(4) one anesthesiologist with 15 or more years of |
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experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health; |
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(5) one licensed mental health professional with 15 or |
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more years of experience in that field and whose expertise is in |
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postpartum depression; |
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(6) one neonatologist; |
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(7) one perinatologist; and |
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(8) two individuals with relevant and appropriate |
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expertise in maternal health. |
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(d) In making the appointments under Subsection (c)(1), the |
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department and the review committee shall ensure: |
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(1) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with |
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10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of |
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neonatology; |
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(2) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with |
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10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of |
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perinatology; and |
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(3) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with |
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experience working at a community hospital as an obstetrician or |
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gynecologist for less than nine years. |
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(e) The members of the subcommittee shall elect a presiding |
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officer from among the membership of the subcommittee. |
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(f) The department and the review committee shall fill a |
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vacancy on the subcommittee by appointing a person who has the same |
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qualifications as required for the original appointee. |
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(g) A member of the subcommittee is not entitled to |
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compensation for service on the subcommittee but is entitled to |
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reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in |
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performing subcommittee duties authorized by the presiding |
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officer, provided funding is available for that purpose. |
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(h) The subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly and at |
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other times at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any |
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other law, the subcommittee may meet by telephone conference call, |
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videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A |
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meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or |
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other similar telecommunication method is subject to the |
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requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government |
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Code. |
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(j) The subcommittee may accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any source to carry out the subcommittee duties |
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imposed under this section. |
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(k) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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subcommittee established under this section. |
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(l) The subcommittee established under this section and |
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this section expire on September 1, 2031. |
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Sec. 34.024. BIENNIAL REPORTS; IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN |
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RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Not later than September 1 of each |
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even-numbered year, the subcommittees established under Sections |
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34.022 and 34.023 shall each prepare and submit to each member of |
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the legislature, the department, and the review committee a report |
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that: |
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(1) includes the results of the study conducted by |
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each subcommittee and recommendations for legislative or |
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regulatory action based on those results; and |
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(2) examines and considers any trends or changes in |
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maternal health. |
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(b) To the extent permitted by law and as the executive |
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commissioner determines appropriate, the commission shall |
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implement any regulatory recommendations included in a report under |
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this section that are within the commission's prescribed authority. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2031. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than February 1, 2022, the Department |
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of State Health Services and the Texas Maternal Mortality and |
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Morbidity Review Committee established under Chapter 34, Health and |
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Safety Code, shall establish and appoint members to the |
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subcommittees as required under Sections 34.022 and 34.023, Health |
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and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect December 1, 2021. |