By: Ellis S.B. No. 716 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to entities that contract with certain programs for women, 1-2 infants, and children. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 1-5 adding Section 32.021 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 32.021. REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE WOMEN, INFANTS AND 1-7 CHILDREN PROGRAM. (a) The department shall require that any 1-8 agency, clinic, organization, or other entity that contracts with 1-9 the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children 1-10 provide the services supported by that program during the evening 1-11 hours or on Saturdays as provided by Subsection (b). 1-12 (b) If the entity described in Subsection (a) operates: 1-13 (1) 32 or more hours each week, then the clinic shall 1-14 be open at least one weekday evening for a minimum of two hours in 1-15 excess of normal working hours or on Saturdays for a minimum of 1-16 three hours; 1-17 (2) only selected hours within a week during two or 1-18 more days a month, then for each month the clinic shall be open at 1-19 least one weekday evening for a minimum of two hours in excess of 1-20 normal working hours or on a Saturday for a minimum of three hours; 1-21 or 1-22 (3) only on one day a month or less frequently, then 1-23 in one month out of every three the clinic shall be open at least 2-1 one weekday evening for a minimum of two hours in excess of normal 2-2 working hours or on a Saturday for a minimum of three hours. 2-3 (c) The department, in administering the Supplemental Food 2-4 Program for Women, Infants and Children, shall adopt guidelines for 2-5 the granting of waivers from the requirement of Subsection (a). 2-6 (d) To obtain a waiver, a clinic shall submit a written 2-7 justification to the department explaining the extraordinary 2-8 circumstances involved and identifying the time frame needed for 2-9 their resolution. 2-10 (e) If an entity required by this section to maintain 2-11 extended hours provides other maternal and child health services, 2-12 the department shall require that the entity also make those 2-13 services available during the extended hours. 2-14 SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Health, in administering 2-15 the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, 2-16 shall adopt a deadline by which the requirements of Section 32.021, 2-17 Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, shall be met. 2-18 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-23 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-24 passage, and it is so enacted.