| TO: | Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2312 by Coleman (Relating to the creation of a sickle cell disease program.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill amends Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 33 to establish an advisory committee, including a program administrator, to conduct a needs assessment and advise the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regarding the needs of individuals with sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease, including recommendations regarding legislative action and rules. The bill stipulates the role of DSHS is to identify efforts related to expansion and coordination of education, treatment, and continuity of care programs relating to sickle cell trait/disease; assist the advisory committee; and provide staff support to the advisory committee.
The bill specifies that the program administrator shall investigate and identify grants from federal, local, and charitable sources and provide these grants to eligible entities involved in sickle cell disease efforts.
It is assumed that any costs associated with implementing the provisions in this bill can be absorbed within existing agency resources.
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, MB, JF, NB
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