82R6260 ALB-F
 
  By: Coleman H.B. No. 2312
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a sickle cell disease program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 33, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. SICKLE CELL DISEASE PROGRAM
         Sec. 33.051.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (2)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
               (3)  "Health and human services agency" means a health
  and human services agency listed by Section 531.001, Government
  Code.
               (4)  "Program" means the sickle cell disease program
  established under this subchapter.
               (5)  "Sickle cell disease" means any variant of sickle
  cell disease, including sickle cell anemia and sickle cell
  thalassemia.
         Sec. 33.052.  DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. The department shall
  develop a sickle cell disease program to:
               (1)  provide education about sickle cell trait and
  sickle cell disease;
               (2)  improve the detection of sickle cell trait and
  sickle cell disease and the treatment of sickle cell disease;
               (3)  coordinate delivery of services for people with
  sickle cell disease;
               (4)  provide access to information regarding genetic
  testing and counseling;
               (5)  bundle technical services related to the
  prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease;
               (6)  provide training for health professionals
  regarding sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease;
               (7)  identify other efforts related to the expansion
  and coordination of education, treatment, and continuity of care
  programs for individuals with sickle cell trait and sickle cell
  disease; and
               (8)  award grants to facilitate Subdivisions (1)-(7).
         Sec. 33.053.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The governor shall
  appoint an advisory committee composed of 11 members, including a
  program administrator. In making appointments to the advisory
  committee, the governor shall consider appointing members who are:
               (1)  representatives of a community agency interested
  in sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease;
               (2)  state or local officials responsible for public
  health, social services, or rehabilitation;
               (3)  teachers or school board members;
               (4)  physicians interested in sickle cell trait and
  sickle cell disease; and
               (5)  persons with, or relatives of persons with, sickle
  cell trait or sickle cell disease.
         (b)  Members of the advisory committee serve staggered
  three-year terms, with the terms of three or four members expiring
  each year.
         (c)  The advisory committee shall advise the department and
  the program administrator regarding the needs of individuals with
  sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease and make recommendations,
  including recommendations regarding legislative action and
  department rules.
         (d)  The department shall provide the advisory committee
  with the staff support necessary to allow the committee to fulfill
  its duties.
         (e)  A member of the advisory committee is not entitled to
  compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for travel or other
  expenses incurred while conducting the business of the advisory
  committee as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
         (f)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  advisory committee.
         Sec. 33.054.  SICKLE CELL DISEASE TESTING AND COUNSELING.
  (a) A public health district or local health department shall
  provide testing services for sickle cell trait and sickle cell
  disease and related counseling services at no cost to any
  individual who requests those services.  The public health district
  or local health department that provides the testing service shall
  inform the individual of the test results.
         (b)  A laboratory that is operated by, or under contract to,
  the department and that performs a screening test for sickle cell
  trait or sickle cell disease shall, on the request of an individual,
  provide the individual's sickle cell test results to any public
  health district, local health department, or health and human
  services agency that has been requested to provide services to the
  individual.
         Sec. 33.055.  GRANTS. (a) The program administrator may
  award grants to entities that participate in the activities listed
  in Sections 33.052(1)-(7).
         (b)  In awarding grants under this section, the program
  administrator shall give priority to an applicant that is:
               (1)  a qualified health center that partners with or
  intends to partner with a center that provides comprehensive sickle
  cell disease treatment; or
               (2)  a community-based sickle cell disease
  organization or nonprofit organization that works with individuals
  or families affected by sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease.
         (c)  The program administrator shall award grants, if
  possible, to eligible organizations in different regions of this
  state.
         (d)  The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
  donations of money from the federal government, local governments,
  private corporations, and other persons to be used for the purpose
  of awarding grants under the program.
         Sec. 33.056.  RULES.  The executive commissioner may adopt
  rules to implement this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2011.