By: Moncrief S.B. No. 602
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the membership and powers of the Interagency Council
1-2 for Genetic Services.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (c), Section 134.001, Human
1-5 Resources Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-6 (b) The council consists of:
1-7 (1) a representative of the Texas Department of Mental
1-8 Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the commissioner of
1-9 mental health and mental retardation;
1-10 (2) a representative of the Texas Department of
1-11 Health, appointed by the commissioner of health;
1-12 (3) a representative of the Texas Department of
1-13 Insurance [Human Services], appointed by the commissioner of
1-14 insurance [human services];
1-15 (4) a representative of The University of Texas health
1-16 science centers, appointed by the chancellor of The University of
1-17 Texas System;
1-18 (5) a representative of the public and private
1-19 entities that contract with the Texas Department of Health to
1-20 provide genetic services, elected from their membership; and
1-21 (6) two consumers of genetic services, family members
1-22 of consumers of genetic services, or representatives of consumer
1-23 groups related to the provision of genetic services, appointed by
1-24 the governor.
2-1 (c) The members provided for by Subdivisions (5) and (6) of
2-2 Subsection (b) of this section serve two-year terms and may be
2-3 reappointed or reelected for subsequent terms. A representative of
2-4 the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas
2-5 Department of Health, Texas Department of Insurance [Human
2-6 Services], or The University of Texas health science centers serves
2-7 at the pleasure of his respective commissioner or chancellor or
2-8 until termination of his employment with the entity he represents.
2-9 SECTION 2. Chapter 134, Human Resources Code, is amended by
2-10 adding Section 134.002 to read as follows:
2-11 Sec. 134.002. RULES. (a) The council may adopt rules to
2-12 implement this chapter.
2-13 (b) A state agency that is a member of the council shall
2-14 work in coordination with the council when initiating, considering,
2-15 or proposing a rule relating to human genetics or human genetic
2-16 services.
2-17 SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 134.003, Human Resources
2-18 Code, is amended to read as follows:
2-19 (b) The Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of
2-20 Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Department of Insurance
2-21 [Human Services], and The University of Texas health science
2-22 centers shall share the cost of providing clerical and advisory
2-23 support staff to the council.
2-24 SECTION 4. Section 134.004, Human Resources Code, is amended
2-25 to read as follows:
2-26 Sec. 134.004. DUTIES. The council shall:
3-1 (1) survey current resources for human genetic
3-2 services in the state;
3-3 (2) initiate a scientific evaluation of the current
3-4 and future needs for the services;
3-5 (3) develop a comparable data base among providers
3-6 that will permit the evaluation of cost-effectiveness and the value
3-7 of different human genetic services and methods of service
3-8 delivery;
3-9 (4) promote a common statewide data base to study the
3-10 epidemiology of human genetic disorders;
3-11 (5) assist in coordinating statewide human genetic
3-12 services for all state residents;
3-13 (6) increase the flow of information among separate
3-14 providers and appropriation authorities;
3-15 (7) develop guidelines to monitor the provision of
3-16 human genetic services, including laboratory testing; [and]
3-17 (8) identify state entities that serve persons who are
3-18 affected by or who are at risk of having children who are affected
3-19 by environmental genetic disorders and coordinate activities with
3-20 those agencies; and
3-21 (9) work in coordination with the state agencies named
3-22 in Sections 134.001(b)(1), (2), and (3) when the agency initiates,
3-23 considers, or proposes a rule relating to human genetics or human
3-24 genetic services.
3-25 SECTION 5. Subsection (b), Section 134.005, Human Resources
3-26 Code, is amended to read as follows:
4-1 (b) If the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of
4-2 Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Department of Insurance
4-3 [Human Services], or The University of Texas health science centers
4-4 receive federal funds to be used only to coordinate and plan
4-5 statewide genetic services, the department or system shall transfer
4-6 the funds to the council through the Texas Department of Health to
4-7 be used for the purposes for which the funds were received.
4-8 SECTION 6. Section 134.006, Human Resources Code, is amended
4-9 to read as follows:
4-10 Sec. 134.006. ANNUAL REPORTS. The council shall annually
4-11 submit a progress report to the boards of the Texas Department of
4-12 Health, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation,
4-13 and Texas Department of Insurance [Human Services] and to the board
4-14 of regents of The University of Texas System.
4-15 SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-16 SECTION 8. The importance of this legislation and the
4-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.