HBA-EDN S.B. 877 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 877
By: Van de Putte
Public Health
5/7/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, retail vendors are a vital part of the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a federal program
under which food, nutrition counseling, and access to health services are
provided to low-income women, infants, and children.  These vendors have
knowledge of marketing and outreach opportunities within their communities
which can assist in creating avenues for further outreach and marketing of
WIC.  Senate Bill 877 creates an advisory committee composed of 10 members,
including several retail merchant vendors, to advise the health and human
services commissioner and the Texas Department of Health on policy, rules,
and technology changes concerning WIC.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 877 amends the Government Code to require the commissioner of
health and human services (commissioner) to establish a WIC program
advisory committee (advisory committee) to provide input from WIC program
merchants, vendors, recipient advocacy groups, and local clinics to advise
the commissioner and the Texas Department of Health (TDH) on policy, rules,
and technology changes concerning the WIC program.  The bill sets forth
provisions regarding the composition and administration of the advisory
committee.  S.B. 877 requires the committee to review certain current and
proposed WIC policies, methods, and procedures.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.