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.