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.