1-1 By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 482 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 6, 1995; February 8, 1995, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 1-4 Services; March 8, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 8, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation, powers, and duties of the Texas Volunteer 1-9 Health Corps. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 1-12 adding Subchapter H to read as follows: 1-13 SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS VOLUNTEER HEALTH CORPS 1-14 Sec. 12.091. TEXAS VOLUNTEER HEALTH CORPS. (a) The 1-15 department shall establish the Texas Volunteer Health Corps to 1-16 enhance community-based public health services. 1-17 (b) The Texas Volunteer Health Corps shall connect 1-18 volunteers with residents of local communities to involve those 1-19 residents in preventive health care, expand the role of those 1-20 residents in making decisions about their own health, and build 1-21 community support for public health. 1-22 Sec. 12.092. COORDINATORS. (a) The department may employ 1-23 coordinators to recruit, train, and refer volunteers for service in 1-24 local communities. 1-25 (b) A coordinator employed under this section may apply for 1-26 grants from any public or private source for purposes of this 1-27 subchapter. 1-28 Sec. 12.093. VOLUNTEERS. (a) Volunteers recruited under 1-29 this subchapter may include students in high school or an 1-30 institution of higher education, senior citizens, participants in 1-31 the AFDC job opportunities and basic skills (JOBS) training 1-32 program, VISTA and AmeriCorps volunteers, and volunteers from 1-33 business and community networks. 1-34 (b) To build healthy local communities, Texas Volunteer 1-35 Health Corps volunteers may promote health, expand clients' 1-36 capacity for self-help, make clinic appointments, arrange 1-37 transportation, and identify community resources and provide links 1-38 to those resources. 1-39 Sec. 12.094. VITAL HEALTH CARE ISSUES. (a) The department 1-40 may identify vital health care issues, including the use of tobacco 1-41 and alcohol, end-of-life needs, health and safety issues on the 1-42 Texas/Mexico border, family issues, oral health, violence, 1-43 immunizations, homelessness, responsible adult and teen pregnancy, 1-44 substance abuse, health promotion and education, and disease 1-45 prevention. 1-46 (b) The Texas Volunteer Health Corps may address a vital 1-47 health care issue if a local community identifies the issue as a 1-48 priority. 1-49 Sec. 12.095. MENTORS. The department shall encourage health 1-50 care professionals to volunteer as mentors in the Texas Volunteer 1-51 Health Corps. 1-52 Sec. 12.096. INFORMATION. The department may provide public 1-53 health information materials as needed by the Texas Volunteer 1-54 Health Corps. 1-55 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-56 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-57 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-58 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-59 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-60 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-61 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-62 * * * * *