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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to renaming the Center for Elimination of |
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Disproportionality and Disparities to the office of health equity |
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and to the duties of that office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 107A, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 107A. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY [CENTER FOR ELIMINATION OF |
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DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES] |
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Sec. 107A.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "office" means |
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the office of health equity established under this chapter. |
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Sec. 107A.002. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY [107A.001. CENTER |
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FOR ELIMINATION OF DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES]. (a) The |
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executive commissioner shall maintain an office of health equity |
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within [a center for elimination of disproportionality and |
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disparities in] the commission to: |
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(1) assume a leadership role in working or contracting |
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with state and federal agencies, universities, private interest |
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groups, communities, foundations, and offices of minority health to |
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develop health initiatives to decrease or eliminate health and |
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health access disparities [among racial, multicultural, |
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disadvantaged, ethnic, and regional populations, including |
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appropriate language services;] and improve health equity across |
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the state, including rural and urban communities, regardless of a |
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person's race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; and |
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(2) maximize use of existing resources without |
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duplicating existing efforts. |
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(b) The health initiatives developed under Subsection (a) |
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must include initiatives to increase access to appropriate language |
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services in health care settings. |
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Sec. 107A.003 [107A.002]. POWERS OF OFFICE [CENTER]. The |
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office [center] may: |
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(1) provide a central information and referral source, |
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including a clearinghouse for health disparities information, and |
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serve as the primary state resource in coordinating, planning, and |
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advocating access to health care services to eliminate health |
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disparities in this state; |
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(2) coordinate conferences and other training |
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opportunities to increase skills among state agencies and |
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government staff in management and in the appreciation of cultural |
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diversity; |
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(3) pursue and administer grant funds for innovative |
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projects for communities, groups, and individuals; |
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(4) provide recommendations and training in improving |
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minority recruitment in state agencies; |
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(5) publicize information regarding health |
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disparities and minority health issues through the use of the |
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media; |
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(6) network with existing minority organizations, |
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community-based health groups, and statewide health coalitions; |
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(7) solicit, receive, and spend grants, gifts, and |
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donations from public and private sources; and |
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(8) contract with public and private entities in the |
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performance of its responsibilities. |
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Sec. 107A.004 [107A.003]. FUNDING. The commission may |
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distribute to the office [center] unobligated and unexpended |
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appropriations to be used to carry out the office's [its] powers and |
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perform the office's duties. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |