88R12489 MPF-D
 
  By: Plesa H.B. No. 4436
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an advisory council on the needs of LGBTQ older adults.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Advisory council" means the advisory council on
  LGBTQ older adults established under this section.
               (2)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
               (3)  "LGBTQ" includes individuals who are lesbian, gay,
  bisexual, transgender, intersex, gender nonconforming, two-spirit,
  non-binary, same-gender-loving, queer, or any other diverse sexual
  orientation or gender identity.
               (4)  "Older adult" means individuals who are 55 years
  of age or older.
         (b)  The advisory council on LGBTQ older adults is
  established within the Health and Human Services Commission. The
  commission shall provide administrative support to the advisory
  council as necessary for the advisory council to perform its duties
  under this section.
         (c)  The advisory council is composed of:
               (1)  24 members appointed by the governor to include:
                     (A)  one representative from a statewide
  organization that advocates for older adults;
                     (B)  one representative from a national
  organization that advocates for LGBTQ older adults;
                     (C)  one representative from a community-based,
  multisite health care organization founded to serve LGBTQ people;
                     (D)  the director of senior services from a
  community center serving LGBTQ people, or the director's designee;
                     (E)  one representative from an HIV or AIDS
  service organization;
                     (F)  one representative from a community
  organization that is focused on action leading to improved outcomes
  and opportunities for LGBTQ communities;
                     (G)  one representative from a labor organization
  that provides care and services for older adults in long-term care
  facilities;
                     (H)  one representative from a statewide
  association representing long-term care facilities;
                     (I)  five representatives from organizations that
  serve black, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native American, or
  Hispanic LGBTQ people;
                     (J)  one representative from a statewide
  organization for people with disabilities; and
                     (K)  10 LGBTQ older adults, including at least:
                           (i)  three individuals who are transgender
  or gender-expansive;
                           (ii)  two individuals who are older adults
  living with HIV;
                           (iii)  one individual who is two-spirit;
                           (iv)  one individual who is African American
  or black;
                           (v)  one individual who is Hispanic;
                           (vi)  one individual who is Asian American
  or Pacific Islander; and
                           (vii)  one individual who is ethnically
  diverse; and
               (2)  four ex officio members to represent each of the
  following state agencies:
                     (A)  one member designated by the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission;
                     (B)  one member designated by the commissioner of
  state health services;
                     (C)  one member designated by the commissioner of
  the Department of Family and Protective Services; and
                     (D)  one member designated by the commission
  chair of the Texas Veterans Commission.
         (d)  In appointing members and ex officio members to the
  advisory council under Subsection (c) of this section, the governor
  and state agency officials shall ensure, to the maximum extent
  practicable, that the advisory council is diverse with respect to
  race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender
  expression, and geography.
         (e)  If a vacancy occurs on the advisory council, the vacancy
  shall be filled by the appointing authority as described by
  Subsection (c) of this section. A vacating member shall continue to
  serve until a successor is appointed.
         (f)  Members of the advisory council are not entitled to
  compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of actual and
  necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties
  under Section 2110.004, Government Code.
         (g)  The advisory council shall:
               (1)  investigate, analyze, and study the health,
  housing, financial, psychosocial, home and community-based
  services, assisted living, and long-term care needs of LGBTQ older
  adults and their caregivers; and
               (2)  make recommendations to the legislature to improve
  access to benefits, services, and supports for LGBTQ older adults
  and their caregivers.
         (h)  In carrying out its duties under Subsection (g) of this
  section, the advisory council shall:
               (1)  examine the impact of state and local laws,
  policies, and rules on LGBTQ older adults;
               (2)  examine best practices for increasing access to
  services, reducing isolation, preventing abuse and exploitation,
  promoting independence and self-determination, strengthening
  caregiving, eliminating disparities in services, and improving
  overall quality of life for LGBTQ older adults;
               (3)  examine the impact of race, ethnicity, sex
  assignment at birth, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual
  orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics on access
  to services for LGBTQ older adults;
               (4)  examine the experiences and needs of LGBTQ older
  adults living with HIV or AIDS;
               (5)  examine strategies to increase the awareness of
  health care providers on the needs of LGBTQ older adults and their
  caregivers and to improve the competence of and access to
  treatment, services, and ongoing care, including preventive care;
               (6)  examine the feasibility of developing statewide
  training curricula to improve provider competency in the delivery
  of culturally responsive health, housing, and long-term support
  services to LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers;
               (7)  assess the funding and programming needed to
  provide services to the growing population of LGBTQ older adults;
               (8)  examine whether certain policies and practices, or
  the absence of certain policies and practices, promote the
  premature admission of LGBTQ older adults to institutional care,
  and whether providing lower cost and culturally responsive home and
  community-based alternatives to institutional care provides cost
  savings to LGBTQ older adults;
               (9)  examine outreach protocols to reduce apprehension
  among LGBTQ older adults and caregivers in utilizing mainstream
  long-term care providers; and
               (10)  examine statewide strategies for the collection
  of sexual orientation and gender identity data and the impact of
  these strategies on the provision of services to LGBTQ older
  adults, and conduct a statewide survey designed to approximate the
  number of LGBTQ older adults in the state and collect demographic
  information, if resources allow.
         (i)  The advisory council shall provide for its organization
  and procedure, including selection of the presiding officer. A
  majority of the advisory council constitutes a quorum for the
  transaction of business.
         (j)  The advisory council shall meet at least one time per
  quarter. The meetings may be conducted in person or by
  videoconference, as determined by the presiding officer of the
  advisory council.
         (k)  The advisory council shall submit reports to the
  legislature regarding recommendations for legislative or other
  action not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year. In
  making recommendations to the legislature, the reports must:
               (1)  consider the best policies and practices in other
  states and jurisdictions; and
               (2)  ensure equitable access, treatment, care and
  benefits, and overall quality of life for LGBTQ older adults.
         (l)  The commission shall post the reports required under
  Subsection (k) of this section on the commission's public Internet
  website.
         (m)  The commission and advisory council may collaborate
  with an institution of higher education in this state to compile the
  reports required under Subsection (k) of this section.
         (n)  The advisory council is abolished and this section
  expires December 1, 2026.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than November 1, 2023, the governor and
  state agency officials shall make the appointments required by this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.