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House Bill 2312 |
House Author: Coleman et al. |
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Effective: 6-17-11 |
Senate Sponsor: West |
House Bill 2312 amends the Health and Safety Code to create a sickle cell disease program. The bill requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to identify efforts related to the expansion and coordination of education, treatment, and continuity of care programs for individuals with sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease and requires the governor to appoint an advisory committee, including a program administrator, that conducts a needs assessment and makes recommendations regarding the needs of those individuals. The bill requires DSHS to assist the advisory committee and provide it the staff support necessary to fulfill its duties. The bill requires the program administrator to investigate and identify grants and other funding mechanisms for entities that perform certain activities relating to sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease and to award grants, if possible, to eligible organizations in different regions of Texas. The bill authorizes DSHS to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations of money to be used for the purpose of awarding such grants. The bill authorizes the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules to implement the sickle cell disease program. Provisions relating to the sickle cell disease program expire September 1, 2017.