H.B. No. 1373

AN ACT

relating to creating the Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Glenda Dawson Act.

SECTION 2. The state finds that the treatment of chronic kidney disease is a tremendous expense and that the early diagnosis and effective treatment of chronic kidney disease can prolong lives and delay the high cost of medical treatment, including dialysis and transplantation.

SECTION 3. Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 98 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 98. CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE TASK FORCE

Sec. 98.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.

(2) "Task force" means the Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force.

Sec. 98.002. CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE TASK FORCE. (a) The Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force is composed of:

(1) 13 members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A) one family practice physician;

(B) one pathologist;

(C) one representative from a nephrology department of a state medical school;

(D) one nephrologist in private practice;

(E) two representatives from different Texas affiliates of the National Kidney Foundation;

(F) one representative from the department;

(G) one representative of an insurer that issues a preferred provider benefit plan or of a health maintenance organization;

(H) one representative of clinical laboratories;

(I) one representative of private renal care providers;

(J) one pediatrician in private practice;

(K) one kidney transplant surgeon; and

(L) one representative from the Texas Renal Coalition;

(2) two members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) The governor shall designate a member of the task force to serve as the presiding officer of the task force. The presiding officer serves at the will of the governor.

(c) Appointments to the task force shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointees.

Sec. 98.003. DUTIES. The task force shall:

(1) develop a plan to educate health care professionals about the advantages and methods of early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease and complications related to chronic kidney disease based on the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease or other medically recognized clinical practice guidelines;

(2) develop a plan to educate health care professionals and individuals with chronic kidney disease about the advantages of end-stage renal disease modality education and early renal replacement therapy, including in-center dialysis, home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis as well as other access options, and transplantation, before the onset of end-stage renal disease when kidney function is declining; and

(3) make recommendations on the implementation of a cost-effective plan for early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease for the state's population.

Sec. 98.004. REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the task force is not entitled to compensation but, at the discretion of the department, is entitled to reimbursement for the member's actual and necessary expenses in attending meetings of the task force and performing other official duties authorized by the presiding officer.

Sec. 98.005. ASSISTANCE. The department shall provide administrative support to the task force, including necessary staff and meeting facilities.

Sec. 98.006. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2009, the task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to:

(1) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives; and

(2) the presiding officers of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the Public Health Committee of the house of representatives, or the appropriate committees of the 81st Legislature.

Sec. 98.007. FUNDING. (a) The task force, through the department, may accept gifts and grants from individuals, private or public organizations, or federal or local funds to support the task force.

(b) The department shall investigate any potential sources of funding from federal grants or programs.

Sec. 98.008. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the task force.

Sec. 98.009. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this chapter expires on September 1, 2009.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1373 was passed by the House on April 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1373 was passed by the Senate on May 21, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor