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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a task force to design cultural competence |
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education requirements for certain health education programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.980 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.980. CULTURAL COMPETENCE TASK FORCE; REPORT. (a) |
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In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The commissioner of higher education shall appoint a |
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task force on cultural competence composed of: |
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(1) health curricula specialists from two-year and |
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four-year institutions of higher education; |
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(2) health professionals; and |
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(3) representatives of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Office |
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for the Elimination of Health Disparities. |
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(c) The commissioner must consider geographic distribution |
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and cultural and health professional diversity when appointing |
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members to the task force. |
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(d) The task force shall study and make recommendations on |
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specific cultural competence curricula for each health-related |
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education field offered by an institution of higher education. The |
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curricula must be designed to ensure that students are provided |
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knowledge of cultural awareness and competence in their respective |
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health service field, including: |
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(1) cross-cultural communication; |
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(2) culturally and linguistically appropriate health |
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policy considerations; |
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(3) exploration of health beliefs and explanatory |
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models; |
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(4) culturally competent health care delivery; |
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(5) health disparities, privilege, and equity factors |
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in the health system; and |
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(6) culturally and linguistically competent care |
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supported by policy, administration, and practice. |
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(e) To minimize duplication and expense for students and |
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institutions of higher education, the task force must develop and |
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design the curricula to be offered electronically and through |
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various distance education models and media. |
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(f) Not later than January 1, 2015, the task force shall |
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report its recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and chair of each standing |
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committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher |
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education or health and human services. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |