SRC-JXG S.B. 354 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 354 76R826 MCK-DBy: Madla Health Services 3/5/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law requires the Center for Rural Health Initiatives (center) to be abolished on September 1, 1999, unless continued by the legislature. The center is the primary state resource to assist government and rural communities in planning, coordinating, and advocating for continued access to health care services for three million rural Texans. The center provides loans and scholarships, and sponsors annual health professional recruitment fairs. The center's nine-member executive committee is responsible for overseeing the annual budget of $1.5 million, and the Texas Department of Health is responsible for providing administrative services to the center. S.B. 354 would permit the center to continue to operate until September 1, 2007. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 354 permits the Center for Rural Health Initiatives to continue to operate. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 106.003, 106.021, and 106.024, Health and Safety Code, as follows: Sec. 106.003. SUNSET PROVISION. Provides that unless continued in existence as provided by the Texas Sunset Act the Center for Rural Health Initiatives (center) is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2007, rather than 1999. Sec. 106.021. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Sets forth the composition of the executive committee of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding appointments to the executive committee. Deletes text on elected and appointed members of the executive committee. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. Sec. 106.024. ADMINISTRATIVE AND STAFF SUPPORT. Requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to enter into a formal agreement with the executive committee to provide staff support. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 106B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections 106.0211, 106.0211-106.0216, 106.0221, 106.0222, 106.027, and 106.028, as follows: Sec. 106.0211. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding conflicts of interest. Sec. 106.0212. TRAINING FOR MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding training for members of the executive committee. Sec. 106.0213. REMOVAL. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding removal of a member from the executive committee. Sec. 106.0214. PRESIDING OFFICER. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding the presiding officer of the executive committee. Sec. 106.0215. DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY. Requires the executive committee to develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policymaking responsibilities of the executive committee and the management responsibilities of the executive director and staff of the center. Sec. 106.0216. PUBLIC HEARINGS. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding public hearings. Sec. 106.0221. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding the equal employment opportunity policy statement. Sec. 106.0222. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding standards of conduct. Sec. 106.027. COMPLAINTS. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission regarding complaints. Sec. 106.028. RURAL HEALTH WORK PLAN. (a) Requires the center to develop, implement, and update a rural health work plan. (b) Requires the center to submit the rural health work plan to the executive committee for approval. Requires the executive committee to approve the rural health work plan, no later than August 1 of each odd-numbered year. (c) Requires the center to work with health care providers, rural communities, universities, TDH, the Texas Department of Human Services, and other health and human service related state agencies to develop the rural health work plan. Requires the center to solicit public comment on the rural health work plan. (d) Requires the rural health work plan to identify certain provisions. SECTION 3. (a) Provides that the terms of all membership positions on the executive committee of the center, as those positions exist on the effective date of this Act, expire August 31, 1999. Provides that the members whose terms expire on August 31, 1999, continue to hold office until their successors are appointed as provided by Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, qualify for office, and complete the training program as required by Section 106.0212, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. Requires the governor to designate to which membership position expiring August 31, 1999, each member appointed under Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, succeeds. (b) Requires the governor to designate three of the appointees for terms expiring February 1, 2001, three for terms expiring February 1, 2003, and three for terms expiring February 1, 2005, in making the initial appointments to fill the positions expiring August 31, 1999. (c) Requires the center to submit the first rural health work plan required by Section 106.028, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, to the executive committee for approval, and the executive committee to approve a work plan, no later than October 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Effective date: August 30, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.