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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a task force on maternal mortality |
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in African American women. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. TASK FORCE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN |
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AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN |
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Sec. 32.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" |
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means the task force established by the executive commissioner |
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under Section 32.202. |
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Sec. 32.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The executive |
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commissioner shall establish a task force to: |
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(1) study maternal mortality rates for African |
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American women and any related disparities; and |
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(2) develop and provide recommendations on improving |
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maternal health outcomes among African American women. |
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Sec. 32.203. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE; PRESIDING OFFICER; |
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COMPENSATION. (a) The task force is composed of nine members |
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appointed by the executive commissioner as follows: |
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(1) three licensed obstetricians or gynecologists |
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certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology each |
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with 15 or more years of experience in either field and a patient |
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base consisting of not less than 25 percent individuals who are |
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members of a racial minority; |
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(2) one primary care physician with 15 or more years of |
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experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health; |
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(3) one surgeon with 15 or more years of experience in |
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that field and whose expertise is in maternal health; |
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(4) one anesthesiologist with 15 or more years of |
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experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health; |
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(5) one licensed mental health professional with 15 or |
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more years of experience in that field and whose expertise is in |
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postpartum depression; and |
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(6) two individuals with relevant and appropriate |
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expertise in maternal health. |
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(b) In making the appointments under Subsection (a)(1), the |
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executive commissioner shall ensure: |
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(1) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with |
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10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of |
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neonatology; |
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(2) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with |
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10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of |
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perinatology; and |
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(3) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with |
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experience working at a community hospital as an obstetrician or |
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gynecologist for less than nine years. |
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(c) The task force members shall elect a presiding officer |
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from among the membership of the task force. |
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(d) The executive commissioner shall fill a vacancy on the |
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task force by appointing a person who has the same qualifications as |
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required for the original appointee. |
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(e) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for |
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service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for |
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actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force |
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duties authorized by the presiding officer, provided funding is |
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available for that purpose. |
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Sec. 32.204. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at |
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least quarterly and at other times at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any |
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other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call, |
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videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A |
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meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or |
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other similar telecommunication method is subject to the |
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requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government |
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Code. |
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Sec. 32.205. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The task force |
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may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to carry out |
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task force duties under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 32.206. BIENNIAL REPORTS; IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN |
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RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Not later than September 1 of each |
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even-numbered year, the task force shall prepare and submit to each |
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member of the legislature and the commission a report that: |
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(1) includes the results of the study conducted by the |
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task force and recommendations for legislative or regulatory action |
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based on those results; and |
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(2) examines and considers any trends or changes in |
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maternal health. |
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(b) To the extent permitted by law and as the executive |
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commissioner determines appropriate, the commission shall |
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implement any regulatory recommendations included in a report under |
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this section that are within the commission's prescribed authority. |
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Sec. 32.207. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the task force. |
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Sec. 32.208. TASK FORCE ABOLISHMENT; EXPIRATION OF |
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SUBCHAPTER. The task force is abolished and this subchapter |
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expires September 1, 2029. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2021, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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establish and appoint members to the task force on maternal |
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mortality in African American women in accordance with Subchapter |
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G, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |