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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Legislative Committee on |
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Aging. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING |
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Sec. 161.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Committee" means the Legislative Committee on |
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Aging. |
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(2) "Health and human services agency" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code. |
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Sec. 161.252. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING ESTABLISHED. |
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The Legislative Committee on Aging is established to: |
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(1) study issues relating to the aging population of |
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Texas, including issues related to the health care, income, |
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transportation, housing, education, and employment needs of that |
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population; and |
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(2) make recommendations to address those issues. |
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Sec. 161.253. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE; PRESIDING OFFICER. |
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(a) The committee is composed of: |
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(1) two members of the senate and one public member |
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appointed by the lieutenant governor; and |
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(2) two members of the house of representatives and |
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one public member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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(b) A member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the |
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appointing official. |
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(c) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall appoint the presiding officer of the |
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committee on an alternating basis. The presiding officer shall |
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serve a two-year term expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered |
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year. |
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Sec. 161.254. COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The |
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committee shall: |
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(1) meet at the call of the presiding officer; |
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(2) conduct a continuing study of issues relating to |
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the aging population; |
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(3) analyze the availability of, and unmet needs for, |
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state and local services for the aging population; and |
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(4) request reports and other information relating to |
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the aging population as necessary from the executive commissioner, |
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the department, other health and human services agencies, the |
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attorney general, and any other state agency. |
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(b) The executive commissioner, the department, other |
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health and human services agencies, the attorney general, and any |
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other applicable state agency shall fully cooperate with the |
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committee in performing the committee's duties under this |
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subchapter. |
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(c) The committee may issue process, in accordance with |
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Section 301.024, Government Code, to compel attendance of witnesses |
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and the production of books, records, documents, and instruments |
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required by the committee. |
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(d) The committee shall use the existing staff resources of |
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the senate and the house of representatives to assist the committee |
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in performing its duties under this section. |
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Sec. 161.255. REPORT. (a) The committee shall report to |
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the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives |
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having jurisdiction of issues related to the needs of the aging |
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population not later than November 15 of each even-numbered year. |
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(b) The report must include: |
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(1) a summary of the hearings and studies conducted by |
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the committee during the preceding year; |
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(2) a statement of findings based on the hearings and |
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studies conducted by the committee; and |
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(3) recommendations for legislation. |
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SECTION 2. The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the |
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house of representatives shall appoint members of the Legislative |
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Committee on Aging, as established by this Act, not later than the |
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30th day after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |