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.
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