BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 992

By: Calanni

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns over a reported increase in the rate of uninsured women in Texas, along with rising health care costs, have prompted calls to establish a women's health advisory committee to examine and address these issues. H.B. 992 seeks to provide for the establishment of such an advisory committee composed of health care providers currently participating in women's health programs and certain representatives of the women's health industry.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 992 amends the Government Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not later than October 15, 2019, to establish a women's health advisory committee to provide recommendations to HHSC on women's health programs, including programs previously consolidated by HHSC. The bill requires the executive commissioner to appoint members to the committee and to ensure that a majority of the members are health care providers who are participating in women's health programs of various sizes, are located in separate geographic areas of Texas, and have experience in operating women's health programs. The bill authorizes the executive commissioner to appoint to the committee a member who does not satisfy such criteria but who represents the women's health industry and is knowledgeable on the best practices for women's health programs. The committee is abolished and the bill's provisions expire September 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.