BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1370
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 1993, the HIV/AIDS Interagency Coordinating Council (council) was created to facilitate communication between agencies and associations that provide HIV/AIDS services to individuals, families, and communities and to explore efficient, cost-saving means of delivering services to people infected with HIV. In 2001, hepatitis was added to the scope of the council and the name was changed to reflect the addition. Legislation passed in 2003 granted the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) statutory authority to dissolve advisory councils, and the executive commissioner used this authority to eliminate the council. Dissolution of the council led to a lack of coordination between agencies and providers of the necessary care and prevention.
H.B. 1370 recreates the Interagency Coordinating Council on HIV and Hepatitis to coordinate care and prevention services in Texas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.010, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsections (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (k) and adding Subsection (h-1), as follows:
(c) Sets forth the composition of the Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and Hepatitis (council).
(e) Provides that the representative from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), rather than the Texas Department of Health (TDH), serves as the chairperson of the council.
(f) Authorizes the council to meet on meeting dates set by the council, rather than requiring the council to meet at least once each quarter. Provides that each agency that has a representative appointed to the council should ensure that a representative of the agency attends each meeting of the council, rather than at least three quarterly meetings each year.
(g) Requires the council to provide an opportunity for interested members of the public, including consumers and providers of health services, to provide recommendations and information to the council during any meeting at which the council intends to vote or votes on any matter and at least one of any two consecutive meetings, rather than quarterly meetings, of the council.
(h) Requires the council to take certain actions regarding programs and plans providing prevention and health care services related to AIDS, HIV, and hepatitis.
(h-1) Requires each agency listed in Subsection (c) to provide information under Subsection (h) to the council. Authorizes the council to request information under Subsection (h) from an agency, and requires the agency to comply with the request.
(i) Requires the Department of State Health Services, rather than the council, not later than September 1 of each year, rather than each even-numbered year, to file a report with the legislature and the governor containing policy recommendations based on information reported to the council in Subsection (h) relating to prevention of AIDS, HIV infection, and hepatitis and delivery of health services to individuals who have AIDS or hepatitis or are infected with HIV.
(k) Requires HHSC, rather than TDH, to provide administrative support to the council.
SECTION 2. Re-creates the Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and Hepatitis as described by Section 81.010, Health and Safety Code, effective January 1, 2008.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.