1-1 By: Maxey (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 768
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 2, 2001;
1-3 April 3, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
1-4 and Human Services; April 26, 2001, reported favorably by the
1-5 following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 26, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to an interagency coordinating council for HIV and
1-9 hepatitis.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 85.017, Health and Safety Code, is
1-12 transferred to Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code,
1-13 renumbered as Section 81.010, Health and Safety Code, and amended
1-14 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 81.010 [85.017]. [HIV/AIDS] INTERAGENCY COORDINATING
1-16 COUNCIL FOR HIV AND HEPATITIS. (a) In this section, "AIDS" and
1-17 "HIV" have the meanings assigned by Section 85.002.
1-18 (b) The [HIV/AIDS] Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV
1-19 and Hepatitis facilitates [is created to facilitate] communication
1-20 between state agencies concerning [HIV/AIDS] policies relating to
1-21 AIDS, HIV, and hepatitis.
1-22 (c) [(b)] The council consists of one representative from
1-23 each of the following agencies appointed by the executive director
1-24 or commissioner of each agency:
1-25 (1) the department;
1-26 (2) the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
1-27 Retardation;
1-28 (3) the Texas Department of Human Services;
1-29 (4) the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse;
1-30 (5) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
1-31 (6) the Texas Youth Commission;
1-32 (7) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
1-33 (8) the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
1-34 (9) the Texas Commission for the Blind;
1-35 (10) the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
1-36 Hearing;
1-37 (11) the Department of Protective and Regulatory
1-38 Services;
1-39 (12) the Texas Education Agency;
1-40 (13) the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners;
1-41 (14) the Board of Nurse Examiners;
1-42 (15) the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners;
1-43 (16) the [Texas] State Board of Dental Examiners;
1-44 [and]
1-45 (17) the Health and Human Services Commission;
1-46 (18) the Texas Department on Aging; and
1-47 (19) the Texas Workforce Commission.
1-48 (d) [(c)] All representatives appointed to the council must
1-49 be directly involved in policy or program activities related to
1-50 [AIDS and HIV] services for AIDS, HIV, or hepatitis for their
1-51 respective agencies.
1-52 (e) [(d)] The representative from the department serves as
1-53 chairperson of the council.
1-54 (f) [(e)] The council shall meet at least once each quarter
1-55 on meeting dates set by the council. Each agency that has a
1-56 representative appointed to the council shall ensure that a
1-57 representative of the agency attends at least three quarterly
1-58 meetings of the council each year.
1-59 (g) The council shall provide an opportunity for interested
1-60 members of the public, including consumers and providers of health
1-61 services, to provide recommendations and information to the council
1-62 during:
1-63 (1) any meeting at which the council intends to vote
1-64 or votes on any matter; and
2-1 (2) at least one of any two consecutive quarterly
2-2 meetings of the council.
2-3 (h) [(f)] The council shall:
2-4 (1) coordinate communication among the member agencies
2-5 listed in Subsection (c) [(b)] concerning each agency's programs in
2-6 providing [AIDS-related and HIV-related] services related to AIDS,
2-7 HIV, and hepatitis; and
2-8 (2) develop a plan that facilitates coordination of
2-9 agency programs for:
2-10 (A) prevention of AIDS, [and] HIV infection, and
2-11 hepatitis; and
2-12 (B) provision of services to individuals who
2-13 have hepatitis [with AIDS] or are infected with HIV.[; and]
2-14 (i) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year,
2-15 the council shall file a [(3) develop an annual] report with [to
2-16 be presented to] the legislature and the governor containing policy
2-17 recommendations relating to:
2-18 (1) prevention of [and plans for coordinated
2-19 activities that address issues and problems involved in] AIDS,
2-20 [and] HIV infection, and hepatitis; [prevention] and
2-21 (2) delivery of health services to individuals who
2-22 have [with] AIDS or hepatitis or are infected with HIV.
2-23 (j) [(g)] The council shall establish advisory committees
2-24 composed of representatives from associations, consumer advocates,
2-25 and regulatory agencies, boards, or commissions as needed to assist
2-26 in carrying out its duties under this section.
2-27 (k) [(h)] The department shall provide administrative
2-28 support to the council.
2-29 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-30 * * * * *