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.