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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Task Force on Eating Disorders Prevalence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(3) "Task force" means the Task Force on Eating |
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Disorders Prevalence. |
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SECTION 2. PURPOSE. The Task Force on Eating Disorders |
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Prevalence is established to study, evaluate, and make |
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recommendations to the legislature based on the conclusions |
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published in the department's report, Eating Disorders Prevalence, |
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December 2024, regarding: |
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(1) treatment accessibility for individuals who have |
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low or no income and are living with an eating disorder; |
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(2) resource development for low- or no-income |
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individuals with an eating disorder living in rural areas; |
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(3) policy developments to assist residents of this |
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state with recovery from eating disorders; |
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(4) research and data collection to understand the |
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causes, prevalence, and effects of eating disorders on this state |
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and inform effective interventions and treatment; |
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(5) coordination of services and exploration of |
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collaboratives among various interested persons, including health |
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care providers, educators, mental health professionals, and |
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community organization members, to create an integrated and |
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cohesive response to eating disorders; and |
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(6) any recommendations for legislative or other |
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action necessary to assist people with eating disorders in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 3. TASK FORCE COMPOSITION. The task force is |
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composed of 14 members with expertise in eating disorders, |
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appointed by the executive commissioner of the commission as |
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follows: |
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(1) three members, each of whom specializes and has at |
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least five years of experience in treating eating disorders at a |
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health care facility or in private practice, including: |
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(A) at least one licensed professional counselor |
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as defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code; and |
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(B) at least one licensed clinical social worker |
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as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; |
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(2) two members who are physicians, each of whom |
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specializes and has at least five years of experience in treating |
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eating disorders; |
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(3) three members, each of whom is an employee of a |
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nonprofit organization that serves low- or no-income populations |
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and is a professional specializing in mental illness or drugs and |
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alcohol; |
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(4) two members of the public, each of whom: |
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(A) has experience as a caregiver to someone |
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living with an eating disorder; or |
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(B) has been diagnosed with an eating disorder; |
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(5) one member who is an attorney with expertise in |
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mental health issues; |
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(6) two certified nutritionists, each of whom |
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specializes and has at least five years of experience in treating |
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eating disorders; and |
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(7) one member representing any other entity as the |
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task force considers necessary. |
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SECTION 4. OFFICERS. (a) The task force shall, at its |
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initial meeting, elect from among the task force members a |
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presiding officer who will be responsible for calling and |
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conducting meetings. |
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(b) The task force may elect an assistant presiding officer |
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and secretary from among the task force members. |
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SECTION 5. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at least |
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two times each year, at a time and place determined by the presiding |
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officer of the task force. |
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(b) The task force may meet at other times the task force |
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considers appropriate. The presiding officer may call a meeting on |
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the presiding officer's own motion. |
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(c) The task force may meet by teleconference. |
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SECTION 6. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the |
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task force may not receive compensation or reimbursement for the |
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member's service on the task force. |
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SECTION 7. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The task force may |
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accept gifts, grants, or donations on behalf of the task force to |
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carry out the task force's duties under this Act. |
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SECTION 8. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the task force. |
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SECTION 9. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, |
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the task force shall submit a written report on the task force's |
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evaluations, conclusions, recommendations, and summaries to the |
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legislature. |
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(b) The task force may post written evaluations, |
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conclusions, recommendations, and summaries on the department's |
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Internet website. |
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SECTION 10. ABOLISHMENT; EXPIRATION. The task force is |
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abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |