By Coleman H.B. No. 757
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the establishment of a task force to eliminate health
1-3 and health access disparities in Texas.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Chapter 107 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 107. HEALTH DISPARITIES TASK FORCE
1-8 Sec. 107.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "task force"
1-9 means the health disparities task force established under this
1-10 chapter.
1-11 Sec. 107.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of the task force is to
1-12 assist the department in accomplishing the following goals:
1-13 (1) to eliminate health and health access disparities
1-14 in Texas among multicultural, disadvantaged, and regional
1-15 populations; and
1-16 (2) to reorganize department programs to eliminate
1-17 those disparities.
1-18 Sec. 107.003. DUTIES. (a) The task force shall:
1-19 (1) investigate and report on issues related to health
1-20 and health access disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged,
1-21 and regional populations;
1-22 (2) develop short-term and long-term strategies to
1-23 eliminate health and health access disparities among multicultural,
1-24 disadvantaged, and regional populations, with a focus on
2-1 reorganizing department programs to eliminate those disparities;
2-2 (3) monitor the progress of the department in:
2-3 (A) eliminating the health and health access
2-4 disparities; and
2-5 (B) reorganizing department programs to
2-6 eliminate the disparities; and
2-7 (4) advise the department on the implementation of any
2-8 targeted programs or funding authorized by the legislature to
2-9 address health and health access disparities.
2-10 (b) In performing the duties described in Subsection (a),
2-11 the task force shall consult with the department, the Office of
2-12 Minority Health and Cultural Competency, women's health offices of
2-13 the department, and any other relevant division of the department.
2-14 Sec. 107.004. REPORT. The task force shall submit an annual
2-15 report on the progress of the department in accomplishing the goals
2-16 described by Section 107.002 to the governor, lieutenant governor,
2-17 and speaker of the house of representatives. This report may be
2-18 combined with any other report required of the department by law.
2-19 Sec. 107.005. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force consists of
2-20 nine members as follows:
2-21 (1) three members appointed by the governor, each of
2-22 whom represents a different interest described by Subsection (b);
2-23 (2) three members appointed by the lieutenant
2-24 governor, each of whom represents a different interest described by
2-25 Subsection (b); and
2-26 (3) three members appointed by the speaker of the
2-27 house of representatives, each of whom represents a different
3-1 interest described by Subsection (b).
3-2 (b) Each of the members appointed under Subsection (a) must
3-3 represent one of the following areas:
3-4 (1) business;
3-5 (2) labor;
3-6 (3) government;
3-7 (4) charitable or community organizations;
3-8 (5) racial or ethnic populations; or
3-9 (6) community-based health organizations.
3-10 (c) Members appointed under Subsection (a) must represent
3-11 both urban and rural areas of this state, including urban and rural
3-12 areas of the state adjacent to the border with the United Mexican
3-13 States.
3-14 (d) The governor shall designate a member of the committee
3-15 to serve as presiding officer.
3-16 (e) Members serve staggered two-year terms. Four or five
3-17 members' terms expire February 1 of each year.
3-18 (f) An appointment to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term
3-19 of a member shall be made not later than the 90th day after the
3-20 date the position becomes vacant.
3-21 Sec. 107.006. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the
3-22 call of the presiding officer.
3-23 Sec. 107.007. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. A task force
3-24 member is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to
3-25 reimbursement for the member's travel expenses as provided by
3-26 Chapter 660, Government Code, and the General Appropriations Act.
3-27 Sec. 107.008. PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES. The task force is
4-1 administratively attached to the department. The department shall
4-2 provide the necessary staff and facilities to assist the task force
4-3 in performing its duties.
4-4 Sec. 107.009. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
4-5 Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
4-6 SECTION 2. The terms of the initial members of the health
4-7 disparities task force shall be determined by lot so that:
4-8 (1) five members' terms expire February 1, 2003; and
4-9 (2) four members' terms expire February 1, 2004.
4-10 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.