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.