77R7099 YDB-D By Coleman H.B. No. 757 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 757: By Capelo C.S.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- 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; or 3-8 (5) racial or ethnic populations. 3-9 (c) Members appointed under Subsection (a) must represent 3-10 both urban and rural areas of this state. 3-11 (d) The governor shall designate a member of the committee 3-12 to serve as presiding officer. 3-13 (e) A member serves for a term of two years. Terms expire 3-14 February 1 of each odd-numbered year. 3-15 Sec. 107.006. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the 3-16 call of the presiding officer. 3-17 Sec. 107.007. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. A task force 3-18 member is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to 3-19 reimbursement for the member's travel expenses as provided by 3-20 Chapter 660, Government Code, and the General Appropriations Act. 3-21 Sec. 107.008. PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES. The task force is 3-22 administratively attached to the department. The department shall 3-23 provide the necessary staff and facilities to assist the task force 3-24 in performing its duties. 3-25 Sec. 107.009. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, 3-26 Government Code, does not apply to the task force. 3-27 SECTION 2. The terms of the initial members of the health 4-1 disparities task force expire February 1, 2003. 4-2 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.