87R1523 SCL-D
 
  By: Howard H.B. No. 324
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Computational Health
  Research Institute.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 54 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 54. TEXAS COMPUTATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 54.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Executive committee" means the executive
  committee of the institute.
               (2)  "Institute" means the Texas Computational Health
  Research Institute established under this chapter.
  SUBCHAPTER B. INSTITUTE
         Sec. 54.0051.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Texas
  Computational Health Research Institute is established to leverage
  the expertise and capacity of certain health-related institutions
  by developing computational models to:
               (1)  assist health care providers with identifying
  individual risk factors when treating a specific disease or injury
  or performing a specific health care procedure; and
               (2)  determine the most cost-effective method to
  achieve the optimal health outcome in the treatment of a specific
  disease or injury or the performance of a specific health care
  procedure.
         Sec. 54.0052.  COMPOSITION. The institute is composed of:
               (1)  the Texas Advanced Computing Center;
               (2)  The University of Texas at Austin; and
               (3)  other health-related institutions and
  health-related institutions of higher education the executive
  committee considers necessary, subject to the availability of
  funds.
         Sec. 54.0053.  ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The institute is
  administratively attached to the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board and is funded solely by money appropriated to
  the coordinating board for the institute. The coordinating board
  may use an amount not to exceed three percent of the money
  appropriated for the institute, as approved by the executive
  committee, to provide administrative support to the institute.
  SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
         Sec. 54.0101.  COMPOSITION. The institute is governed by an
  executive committee composed of the following members:
               (1)  a representative of the Texas Advanced Computing
  Center, designated by the executive director of the center;
               (2)  a representative of The University of Texas at
  Austin with expertise in health care, designated by the president
  of the university; 
               (3)  a representative of any other health-related
  institution or health-related institution of higher education the
  executive committee includes in the composition of the institute,
  designated by the executive head of the institution; and
               (4)  any other member, designated by a majority of the
  executive committee.
         Sec. 54.0102.  VACANCY. A vacancy on the executive
  committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original
  appointment.
         Sec. 54.0103.  PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive committee
  shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership of the
  executive committee.
         Sec. 54.0104.  GENERAL DUTIES. The executive committee
  shall:
               (1)  establish procedures for requesting a
  computational model that complies with Subchapter D;
               (2)  establish procedures and policies for the
  administration of funds under this chapter; and
               (3)  establish procedures to document compliance by
  executive committee members and staff with applicable laws
  governing conflicts of interest.
         Sec. 54.0105.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than
  January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the executive committee shall
  submit a report to the legislature on the achievements of the
  institute, including the computational models developed by the
  institute, in the preceding two years.
  SUBCHAPTER D. HEALTH CARE COMPUTATIONAL MODELING
         Sec. 54.0151.  REQUEST FOR COMPUTATIONAL MODEL. (a) A
  member of the legislature or a health care provider may request the
  institute to develop a computational model for:
               (1)  treating a specific disease or injury; or 
               (2)  performing a specific health care procedure.
         (b)  The institute shall determine whether to accept a
  request to develop a computational model and provide a response to
  the requestor not later than the 30th day after the date the request
  is received by the institute.
         Sec. 54.0152.  COMPUTATIONAL MODEL REQUIREMENTS. If the
  institute accepts a request under Section 54.0151, the institute
  shall develop a computational model that:
               (1)  allows a health care provider to assess risk
  factors for an individual patient in treating the disease or
  injury, or performing the health care procedure, as applicable;
               (2)  provides a health care provider clinical
  recommendations for treatment of the disease or injury, or
  performance of the health care procedure, as applicable, based on a
  patient's risk factors to achieve the optimal health outcome in the
  most cost-effective manner;
               (3)  is based on data:
                     (A)  supported by relevant health care experts and
  literature; and
                     (B)  acquired over a period sufficiently recent to
  have significant scientific value for the treatment of the disease
  or injury or performance of the health care procedure; and
               (4)  does not disclose any personally identifiable
  information of individuals included in the model's data.
         Sec. 54.0153.  DATA REQUEST. (a) The institute may request
  relevant data to develop a model requested under Section 54.0151
  from a state agency, health-related institution, or health-related
  institution of higher education.
         (b)  A person electing to provide data in response to a
  request submitted under Subsection (a) shall ensure the data does
  not contain any personally identifiable information.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.