SRC-CTC S.B. 877 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 877 By: Van de Putte Health & Human Services 5/28/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, retail vendors are a vital part of the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, allowing WIC services to be provided to thousands of Texans annually. These vendors have knowledge of marketing and outreach within their communities which can aid in creating avenues for further outreach and marketing of WIC. S.B. 877 creates a committee composed of 10 members, including several representing 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 This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 531B, Government Code, by adding Section 531.0221, as follows: Sec. 531.0221. WIC PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Defines "committee," "department," and "WIC program." (b) Requires the commissioner of health and human services (commissioner) to establish a WIC program advisory committee to provide input from WIC program merchants, vendors, recipient advisory groups, and local clinics to advise the commissioner and the Texas Department of Health (department) on policy, rules, and technology changes concerning the WIC program. (c) Provides that the committee consists of 10 members appointed by the commissioner from geographically diverse areas and from certain groups. (d) Requires the committee to perform certain tasks, (e) Prohibits a member of the committee from receiving compensation for serving on the committee or being reimbursed for travel expenses incurred while conducting the business of the committee. (f) Requires the department to provide administrative support, including staff, for the committee. (g) Provides that the committee is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.