By Zaffirini S.B. No. 482 74R2121 KLL-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation, powers, and duties of the Texas Volunteer 1-3 Health Corps. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Subchapter H to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS VOLUNTEER HEALTH CORPS 1-8 Sec. 12.091. TEXAS VOLUNTEER HEALTH CORPS. (a) The 1-9 department shall establish the Texas Volunteer Health Corps to 1-10 enhance community-based public health services. 1-11 (b) The Texas Volunteer Health Corps shall connect 1-12 volunteers with residents of local communities to involve those 1-13 residents in preventive health care, expand the role of those 1-14 residents in making decisions about their own health, and build 1-15 community support for public health. 1-16 Sec. 12.092. COORDINATORS. (a) The department may employ 1-17 coordinators to recruit, train, and refer volunteers for service in 1-18 local communities. 1-19 (b) A coordinator employed under this section may apply for 1-20 grants from any public or private source for purposes of this 1-21 subchapter. 1-22 Sec. 12.093. VOLUNTEERS. (a) Volunteers recruited under 1-23 this subchapter may include students in high school or an 1-24 institution of higher education, senior citizens, participants in 2-1 the AFDC job opportunities and basic skills (JOBS) training 2-2 program, VISTA and AmeriCorps volunteers, and volunteers from 2-3 business and community networks. 2-4 (b) To build healthy local communities, Texas Volunteer 2-5 Health Corps volunteers may promote health, expand clients' 2-6 capacity for self-help, make clinic appointments, arrange 2-7 transportation, and identify community resources and provide links 2-8 to those resources. 2-9 Sec. 12.094. VITAL HEALTH CARE ISSUES. (a) The department 2-10 may identify vital health care issues, including the use of tobacco 2-11 and alcohol, end-of-life needs, health and safety issues on the 2-12 Texas/Mexico border, family issues, oral health, violence, 2-13 immunizations, homelessness, responsible adult and teen pregnancy, 2-14 substance abuse, health promotion and education, and disease 2-15 prevention. 2-16 (b) The Texas Volunteer Health Corps may address a vital 2-17 health care issue if a local community identifies the issue as a 2-18 priority. 2-19 Sec. 12.095. MENTORS. The department shall encourage health 2-20 care professionals to volunteer as mentors in the Texas Volunteer 2-21 Health Corps. 2-22 Sec. 12.096. INFORMATION. The department may provide public 2-23 health information materials as needed by the Texas Volunteer 2-24 Health Corps. 2-25 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-4 passage, and it is so enacted.