SRC-CTC S.B. 877 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 877
77R4609 SGA-DBy: Van de Putte
Health & Human Services
3/16/2001
As Filed


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.  As proposed, 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.