By Coleman H.B. No. 757 Line and page numbers may not match official copy. Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. 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 108 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. GOAL. The goal of the task force is to assist 1-12 the department in eliminating health and health access disparities 1-13 in Texas among multi-cultural, disadvantaged and regional 1-14 populations, including reorienting all existing programs towards 1-15 eliminating those disparities. 1-16 Sec. 107.003. DUTIES. (a) The task force shall: 1-17 (1) investigate and report on issues related to health 1-18 and health access disparities among multi-cultural, disadvantaged 1-19 and regional populations; 1-20 (2) develop sort and long-term strategies to eliminate 1-21 health and health access disparities among multi-cultural, 1-22 disadvantaged and regional populations, with a focus on reorienting 2-1 existing department programs towards eliminating those disparities; 2-2 (3) monitor the progress of the department in: 2-3 (A) eliminating health and health access 2-4 disparities among multi-cultural, disadvantaged and regional 2-5 populations; and 2-6 (B) reorienting existing programs towards 2-7 eliminating health and health access disparities among 2-8 multi-cultural, disadvantaged and regional populations; and 2-9 (4) advise the department on the implementation of any 2-10 targeted programs or funding authorized by the legislature to 2-11 address health and health access disparities. 2-12 (b) In performing the duties described in Subsection (a), 2-13 the task force shall consult with the department, the office of 2-14 minority health and cultural competency, the bureau of women's 2-15 health, and any other relevant bureau, office or unit of the 2-16 department. 2-17 Sec. 107.004. REPORT. The task force shall submit an annual 2-18 report on the progress of the department towards the goal described 2-19 in Section 107.002 to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker 2-20 of the house of representatives. This report may be combined with 2-21 any other report required of the department by law. 2-22 Sec. 107.005. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE MEMBERS. (a) the 2-23 task force consists of 9 members as follows: 2-24 (1) three members appointed by the governor, each of 2-25 whom represents a different interest described by Subsection (b); 2-26 (2) three members appointed by the lieutenant 3-1 governor, each of whom represents a different interest described by 3-2 Subsection (b); and 3-3 (3) three members appointed by the speaker of the 3-4 house of representatives, each of whom represents a different 3-5 interest described by Subsection (b). 3-6 (b) Each of the members appointed under Subsection (a) must 3-7 represent: 3-8 (1) business; 3-9 (2) labor; 3-10 (3) government; 3-11 (4) charitable or community organizations; or 3-12 (5) racial or ethnic populations. 3-13 (c) Members appointed under Subsection (a) must represent 3-14 both urban and rural areas of Texas. 3-15 (d) The governor shall designate a member of the committee 3-16 to serve as presiding officer. 3-17 (e) A member serves for a term of two years. Terms expire 3-18 February 1 of each odd-numbered year. 3-19 Sec. 107.006. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the 3-20 call of the presiding officer. 3-21 Sec. 107.007. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. A task force 3-22 member is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to 3-23 reimbursement for the member's travel expenses as provided by 3-24 Chapter 660, Government Code, and the General Appropriations Act. 3-25 Sec. 107.008. PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES. The task force is 3-26 administratively attached to the department. The department shall 4-1 provide the necessary staff and facilities to assist the task force 4-2 in performing its duties. 4-3 Sec. 107.009. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, 4-4 Government Code, does not apply to the task force. 4-5 SECTION 2. The term of the initial members of the health 4-6 disparities task force expire February 1, 2003. 4-7 SECTION 3. This act takes effect on September 1, 2001.