1-1 By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 877 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 22, 2001; February 26, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 1-4 Services; March 19, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 19, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of an advisory committee for the special 1-9 supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Section 531.0221 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 531.0221. WIC PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this 1-14 section: 1-15 (1) "Committee" means the advisory committee 1-16 established under this section. 1-17 (2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health. 1-18 (3) "WIC program" means the federal special 1-19 supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children 1-20 authorized by 42 U.S.C. Section 1786, as amended, and administered 1-21 by the department. 1-22 (b) The commissioner shall establish a WIC program advisory 1-23 committee to provide input from WIC program merchants, vendors, 1-24 recipient advocacy groups, and local clinics to advise the 1-25 commissioner and the department on policy, rules, and technology 1-26 changes concerning the WIC program. 1-27 (c) The committee consists of 10 members appointed by the 1-28 commissioner from geographically diverse areas as follows: 1-29 (1) four representatives of retail merchant vendors, 1-30 with two from national supermarket companies and two from regional 1-31 or independent food retailers; 1-32 (2) one representative of a specialty retailer such as 1-33 a pharmacy or WIC program-only retailer; 1-34 (3) two representatives of advocacy groups for WIC 1-35 program recipients, such as charities or consumer groups; and 1-36 (4) three representatives of staff at WIC program 1-37 clinics. 1-38 (d) The committee shall: 1-39 (1) review all current WIC program policies; 1-40 (2) review and submit comments concerning proposed WIC 1-41 program rule and policy changes; 1-42 (3) advise state employees developing and implementing 1-43 the electronic benefits transfer program for the WIC program on the 1-44 methods for benefits delivery through the use of a card issued to a 1-45 WIC program recipient; 1-46 (4) recommend procedures to be used with pricing 1-47 issues for WIC program products; and 1-48 (5) examine and make recommendations regarding the 1-49 possibility of adding farmers' markets as WIC program vendors. 1-50 (e) A member of the committee may not receive compensation 1-51 for serving on the committee and may not be reimbursed for travel 1-52 expenses incurred while conducting the business of the committee. 1-53 (f) The department shall provide administrative support, 1-54 including staff, for the committee. 1-55 (g) The committee is not subject to Chapter 2110. 1-56 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-57 * * * * *