SRC-VRA S.B. 1788 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1788 78R6969 DLF-DBy: Zaffirini Health & Human Services 4/23/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1788 requires the Texas Diabetes Council, in consultation with the Texas Department of Health, to develop a pilot program to promote and facilitate diabetes groups to enable persons with diabetes to exchange information and to obtain further education. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 103, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 103.0176, as follows: Sec. 103.0176. PILOT PROGRAM FOR DIABETES GROUPS. (a) Requires the Texas Diabetes Council (council), in consultation with the Texas Department of Health (TDH), to develop a pilot program to promote and facilitate the operation of diabetes groups to enable persons with diabetes to exchange information and strategies to manage the disease and to obtain relevant information and education. (b) Prohibits the council from providing direct financial support to fund a diabetes group, but authorizes it to provide meeting space in a state-owned building, if available. Requires TDH to cooperate with the council to provide meeting space under this subsection. (c) Requires the council to operate the pilot program required by this section in not more than two counties in this state selected by the council from among the counties that are located on the border of this state and the United Mexican States and that have a high proportion of low-income households. (d) Requires the council, not later than December 1, 2004, to submit a report summarizing the results of the pilot program to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. (e) Provides that this section expires September 2, 2005. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.