By Moncrief S.B. No. 602
76R5459 MCK-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the membership of the Texas Board of Health and the
1-3 membership and powers of the Interagency Council for Genetic
1-4 Services.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 11.005(a), Health and Safety Code, is
1-7 amended to read as follows:
1-8 (a) The board is composed of six members appointed by the
1-9 governor with the advice and consent of the senate and one
1-10 nonvoting member appointed by the Interagency Council for Genetic
1-11 Services.
1-12 SECTION 2. Sections 134.001(b), (c), and (d), Human
1-13 Resources Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-14 (b) The council consists of:
1-15 (1) a representative of the Texas Department of Mental
1-16 Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the commissioner of
1-17 mental health and mental retardation;
1-18 (2) a representative of the Texas Department of
1-19 Health, appointed by the commissioner of health;
1-20 (3) a representative of the Texas Department of
1-21 Insurance [Human Services], appointed by the commissioner of
1-22 insurance [human services];
1-23 (4) a representative of The University of Texas health
1-24 science centers, appointed by the chancellor of The University of
2-1 Texas System;
2-2 (5) a representative of the public and private
2-3 entities that contract with the Texas Department of Health to
2-4 provide genetic services, elected from their membership; and
2-5 (6) two consumers of genetic services, family members
2-6 of consumers of genetic services, or representatives of consumer
2-7 groups related to the provision of genetic services, appointed by
2-8 the governor.
2-9 (c) The members provided for by Subdivisions (5) and (6) of
2-10 Subsection (b) of this section serve two-year terms and may be
2-11 reappointed or reelected for subsequent terms. A representative of
2-12 the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas
2-13 Department of Health, Texas Department of Insurance [Human
2-14 Services], or The University of Texas health science centers serves
2-15 at the pleasure of his respective commissioner or chancellor or
2-16 until termination of his employment with the entity he represents.
2-17 (d) The members of the council shall annually elect:
2-18 (1) one member to serve as chairperson; and
2-19 (2) one member to serve as a nonvoting member of the
2-20 Texas Board of Health as an additional duty attendant to the
2-21 person's service on the council.
2-22 SECTION 3. Chapter 134, Human Resources Code, is amended by
2-23 adding Section 134.002 to read as follows:
2-24 Sec. 134.002. RULES. (a) The council may adopt rules to
2-25 implement this chapter.
2-26 (b) Notwithstanding any other law, a state agency that is a
2-27 member of the council may not adopt a rule relating to genetics or
3-1 genetic services unless the rule is initiated by the council.
3-2 SECTION 4. Section 134.003(b), Human Resources Code, is
3-3 amended to read as follows:
3-4 (b) The Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of
3-5 Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Department of Insurance
3-6 [Human Services], and The University of Texas health science
3-7 centers shall share the cost of providing clerical and advisory
3-8 support staff to the council.
3-9 SECTION 5. Section 134.004, Human Resources Code, is amended
3-10 to read as follows:
3-11 Sec. 134.004. DUTIES. The council shall:
3-12 (1) survey current resources for genetic services in
3-13 the state;
3-14 (2) initiate a scientific evaluation of the current
3-15 and future needs for the services;
3-16 (3) develop a comparable data base among providers
3-17 that will permit the evaluation of cost-effectiveness and the value
3-18 of different genetic services and methods of service delivery;
3-19 (4) promote a common statewide data base to study the
3-20 epidemiology of genetic disorders;
3-21 (5) assist in coordinating statewide genetic services
3-22 for all state residents;
3-23 (6) increase the flow of information among separate
3-24 providers and appropriation authorities;
3-25 (7) develop guidelines to monitor the provision of
3-26 genetic services, including laboratory testing; [and]
3-27 (8) identify state entities that serve persons who are
4-1 affected by or who are at risk of having children who are affected
4-2 by environmental genetic disorders and coordinate activities with
4-3 those agencies; and
4-4 (9) propose rules to the state agencies named in
4-5 Sections 134.001(b)(1), (2), and (3) that the council considers
4-6 necessary to assist the council in fulfilling its duties under this
4-7 section.
4-8 SECTION 6. Section 134.005(b), Human Resources Code, is
4-9 amended to read as follows:
4-10 (b) If the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of
4-11 Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Department of Insurance
4-12 [Human Services], or The University of Texas health science centers
4-13 receive federal funds to be used only to coordinate and plan
4-14 statewide genetic services, the department or system shall transfer
4-15 the funds to the council through the Texas Department of Health to
4-16 be used for the purposes for which the funds were received.
4-17 SECTION 7. Section 134.006, Human Resources Code, is amended
4-18 to read as follows:
4-19 Sec. 134.006. ANNUAL REPORTS. The council shall annually
4-20 submit a progress report to the boards of the Texas Department of
4-21 Health, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation,
4-22 and Texas Department of Insurance [Human Services] and to the board
4-23 of regents of The University of Texas System.
4-24 SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-25 SECTION 9. The importance of this legislation and the
4-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.