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.