H.B. No. 728

AN ACT

relating to the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter M-2 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M-2. STATEWIDE INTERAGENCY AGING SERVICES COORDINATING

COUNCIL

Sec. 531.491. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Council" means the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council.

(2) "Strategic plan" means the statewide interagency aging services strategic plan required under Section 531.497(1).

Sec. 531.492. PURPOSE. The council is established to ensure a strategic statewide approach to interagency aging services.

Sec. 531.493. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the council is composed of at least one representative appointed by each of the following agencies and entities:

(1) the governor's office;

(2) the commission, including one representative of the commission's aging services coordination office;

(3) the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(4) the Department of State Health Services;

(5) the Department of Agriculture's office of rural health;

(6) the Texas Veterans Commission;

(7) the Texas Workforce Commission;

(8) the office of the attorney general;

(9) the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio;

(10) the Texas Aging and Longevity Consortium at The University of Texas at Austin; and

(11) the Center for Community Health and Aging at Texas A&M University.

(b) The executive commissioner shall determine the number of representatives that each agency or entity may appoint to serve on the council.

(c) The council may authorize another state agency or entity that provides specific interagency aging services with the use of appropriated money to appoint a representative to the council.

(d) A council member serves at the pleasure of the appointing agency or entity.

Sec. 531.494. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Council members serve six-year terms.

(b) A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A council member appointed to fill a vacancy on the council shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

Sec. 531.495. PRESIDING OFFICER. The representative of the commission's aging services coordination office appointed under Section 531.493(a) shall serve as the presiding officer.

Sec. 531.496. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least once quarterly or more frequently at the call of the presiding officer.

Sec. 531.497. POWERS AND DUTIES. The council:

(1) shall, in accordance with Section 531.498:

(A) develop a recurring five-year statewide interagency aging services strategic plan; and

(B) submit the strategic plan to the executive commissioner and the administrative head of each agency subject to the strategic plan;

(2) shall develop and, not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, submit to the legislature a biennial coordinated statewide interagency aging services expenditure proposal;

(3) shall annually publish an updated inventory of state-funded interagency aging programs and services that includes a description of how those programs and services further the purpose of the statewide interagency aging services strategic plan;

(4) may facilitate opportunities to increase collaboration for the effective expenditure of available federal and state money for interagency aging services in this state; and

(5) may establish subcommittees as necessary to carry out the council's duties under this subchapter.

Sec. 531.498. RECURRING FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND RELATED IMPLEMENTATION PLANS. (a) Not later than March 1 of the last state fiscal year in each five-year period covered by the most recent strategic plan, the council shall:

(1) develop a new strategic plan for the next five state fiscal years that begins with the following fiscal year; and

(2) submit the new strategic plan to the executive commissioner and the administrative head of each agency subject to the strategic plan.

(b) Not later than the 90th day after receiving the strategic plan, the executive commissioner and the administrative head of each agency that is subject to the plan shall develop and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the legislature a plan for implementing the recommendations applicable to the agency under the strategic plan. An implementation plan must include a justification for any recommendation the commission or other agency declines to implement.

Sec. 531.499. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The council is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). The council shall be reviewed during the period in which the commission is reviewed under Section 531.004. Unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, the council is abolished and this subchapter expires on the date on which the commission is subject to abolishment under that section.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 31, 2024, the appropriate appointing agencies or entities shall appoint the members of the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council as required by Section 531.493, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than March 31, 2024, the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council established under Subchapter M-2, Chapter 531, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial meeting.

(c) Not later than March 1, 2025, the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council shall submit the initial five-year statewide interagency aging services strategic plan required under Section 531.497, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 728 was passed by the House on April 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 97, Nays 47, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 728 was passed by the Senate on May 17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor