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Amend Amendment No. 79 by Callegari on page 222 to CSSB 1 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION and renumbering the subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____.9. Chapter 487, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. TEXAS RURAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Sec. 487.801. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "advisory council" means the Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council established under this subchapter.
Sec. 487.802. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COUNCIL; PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) The commissioner shall establish the Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council, composed of the following members:
(1) one local official in this state with health care expertise, appointed by the commissioner;
(2) one county official in this state with health care expertise, appointed by the commissioner;
(3) one senator serving a predominately rural area, appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(4) one member of the house of representatives serving a predominantly rural area, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(5) a representative of an institution of higher education in this state that specializes in public health and community and economic development, appointed by the commissioner; and
(6) four public members with health care or economic development expertise, appointed by the commissioner.
(b) The members of the advisory council serve staggered three-year terms. A member of the council appointed by the commissioner serves at the pleasure of the commissioner.
(c) The commissioner shall serve as presiding officer of the advisory council and as a nonvoting member of the advisory council. The commissioner is not counted as a member of the advisory council for purposes of establishing a quorum.
Sec. 487.803. DUTIES OF ADVISORY COUNCIL. The advisory council shall:
(1) advise the commissioner, director, and office on rural policy priorities, including priorities for the use and allocation in this state of federal block grant money;
(2) review this state's existing rural policies and programs;
(3) meet with the representatives of state agencies that administer rural programs as necessary to conduct the review required under Subdivision (2);
(4) make recommendations to the office regarding the allocation in this state of federal block grant money; and
(5) establish a rural health task force composed of all or a portion of the members of the advisory council.
Sec. 487.804. RURAL POLICY PLAN. (a) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the advisory council shall develop a rural policy plan that includes:
(1) strategic initiatives for this state regarding economic development, community development, and rural health, including priorities for the use and allocation in this state of federal block grant money; and
(2) recommendations for legislation and program development or revision.
(b) Not later than January 1 of each even-numbered year, the commissioner shall submit to the legislature a report of the findings of the advisory council.
Sec. 487.805. RURAL HEALTH TASK FORCE. The rural health task force shall:
(1) assist the advisory council in its efforts to expand and improve access to health care in rural areas of this state; and
(2) develop a statewide rural health plan for this state that includes:
(A) strategic initiatives for this state regarding rural health; and
(B) recommendations for legislation and program development or revision.
Sec. 487.806. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. A member of the advisory council may not receive compensation for service on the advisory council or rural health task force. Subject to availability of funds, an advisory council member may receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred while conducting advisory council or task force business, as appropriate.