SRC-JEC H.B. 768 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 768 By: Maxey (Nelson) Health & Human Services 4/24/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The HIV/AIDS Interagency Council was created by the 73rd Legislature to facilitate communication and cooperation between agencies and associations that provide HIV/AIDS related services. The Texas Department of Health has recently reported that hepatitis infection has become a serious public health concern. H.B. 768 expands the scope of the council to include hepatitis. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Transfers Section 85.017, Health and Safety Code, to Chapter 81A, Health and Safety Code, renumbers it as Section 81.010, Health and Safety Code, and amends it as follows: Sec. 81.010. New heading: INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR HIV AND HEPATITIS. (a) Defines "AIDS" and "HIV." (b) Provides that the Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and Hepatitis (council) facilitates communication between state agencies concerning policies relating to AIDS, HIV, and hepatitis. Deletes a reference to the creation of the HIV/AIDS Interagency Coordinating Council. (c) Includes the Texas Department on Aging and the Texas Workforce Commission to the list of agencies from which a representative serves as a member of the council. (d) Requires all representatives appointed to the council to be directly involved in policy or program activities related to services for AIDS, HIV, or hepatitis, rather than AIDS and HIV services, for their respective agencies. (f) Requires each agency that has a representative appointed to the council to ensure that a representative of the agency attends at least three quarterly council meetings each year. (g) Requires the council to provide an opportunity for interested members of the public, including consumers and providers of health services, to provide recommendations and information to the council during any meeting at which the council intends to vote or votes on any matter and at least one of any two consecutive quarterly meetings of the council. (h) Makes conforming changes. (i) Requires the council, not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, rather than annually, to file a report with the legislature and governor containing policy recommendations relating to prevention of AIDS, HIV infection, and hepatitis, rather than plans for coordinated activities that address issues and problems involved in AIDS and HIV infection. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.