82R9995 JSC-D
 
  By: Walle H.B. No. 2505
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a task force on lowering the
  incidence of premature births and improving the care of premature
  infants.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
               (2)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
               (3)  "Premature infant" means an infant born before 39
  weeks of gestation.
               (4)  "Task force" means the Task Force on Premature
  Infants established under this section.
         (b)  The executive commissioner shall establish a task force
  to assist the department and appropriate health and human services
  agencies in developing recommendations for:
               (1)  lowering the incidence of births before 39 weeks
  of gestation; and
               (2)  ensuring the proper care of premature infants
  after they are discharged from the hospital.
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall determine the number
  of members to serve on the task force.  The task force must include:
               (1)  one or more neonatologists;
               (2)  a representative from the March of Dimes;
               (3)  representatives from parent organizations; and
               (4)  representatives from statewide hospital
  associations.
         (d)  The executive commissioner shall designate a member of
  the task force to serve as presiding officer. The members of the
  task force shall elect any other necessary officers.
         (e)  The task force shall meet at the call of the executive
  commissioner.
         (f)  A member of the task force serves at the will of the
  executive commissioner.
         (g)  A member of the task force may not receive compensation
  for serving on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for
  travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the
  business of the task force as provided by the General
  Appropriations Act.
         (h)  The task force shall investigate:
               (1)  rehospitalization of premature infants in this
  state; and
               (2)  primary causes for births before 39 weeks of
  gestation in this state.
         (i)  The task force shall develop recommendations to:
               (1)  lower the incidence of births before 39 weeks of
  gestation in this state;
               (2)  promote continuity of care for premature infants;
  and
               (3)  improve reporting and data collection on
  nonmedically indicated cesarean sections and labor inductions
  performed before 39 weeks of gestation.
         (j)  The task force shall develop:
               (1)  a standard discharge tool for use by hospitals to
  reduce the rate of premature infant rehospitalization; and
               (2)  educational materials and planning tools,
  including identification of community resources, for the family of
  a premature infant who is discharged from a hospital.
         (k)  Not later than January 1, 2013, the task force shall
  submit a report to the executive commissioner, the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
  and the chairs of the appropriate legislative committees on its
  findings and recommendations required by this section.
         (l)  The task force is abolished and this Act expires August
  31, 2013.
         SECTION 2.  The executive commissioner of the Health and
  Human Services Commission shall appoint members to the Task Force
  on Premature Infants, as created by this Act, as soon as practicable
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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.