81R19816 KFF-D
By: Naishtat, Herrero, et al. H.B. No. 610
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 610:
By: Naishtat C.S.H.B. No. 610
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Legislative Committee on Aging
and other initiatives relating to the aging population of this
state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, is amended by
adding Subchapters G and H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING
Sec. 161.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Committee" means the Legislative Committee on
Aging.
(2) "Health and human services agency" has the meaning
assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code.
Sec. 161.252. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING ESTABLISHED.
The Legislative Committee on Aging is established to:
(1) study issues relating to the aging population of
Texas, including issues related to the health care, income,
transportation, housing, education, and employment needs of that
population; and
(2) make recommendations to address those issues.
Sec. 161.253. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE; PRESIDING OFFICER.
(a) The committee is composed of:
(1) two members of the senate and one public member
appointed by the lieutenant governor; and
(2) two members of the house of representatives and
one public member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives.
(b) A member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the
appointing official.
(c) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives shall appoint the presiding officer of the
committee on an alternating basis. The presiding officer shall
serve a two-year term expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered
year.
Sec. 161.254. COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The
committee shall:
(1) meet at the call of the presiding officer;
(2) conduct a continuing study of issues relating to
the aging population;
(3) analyze the availability of, and unmet needs for,
state and local services for the aging population; and
(4) request reports and other information relating to
the aging population as necessary from the executive commissioner,
the department, other health and human services agencies, the
attorney general, and any other state agency.
(b) The executive commissioner, the department, other
health and human services agencies, the attorney general, and any
other applicable state agency shall fully cooperate with the
committee in performing the committee's duties under this
subchapter.
(c) The committee may issue process, in accordance with
Section 301.024, Government Code, to compel attendance of witnesses
and the production of books, records, documents, and instruments
required by the committee.
(d) The committee shall use the existing staff resources of
the senate and the house of representatives to assist the committee
in performing its duties under this section.
Sec. 161.255. REPORT. (a) The committee shall report to
the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
having jurisdiction of issues related to the needs of the aging
population not later than November 15 of each even-numbered year.
(b) The report must include:
(1) a summary of the hearings and studies conducted by
the committee during the preceding year;
(2) a statement of findings based on the hearings and
studies conducted by the committee; and
(3) recommendations for legislation.
SUBCHAPTER H. CERTAIN INITIATIVES RELATING TO AGING
Sec. 161.301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "fund" means
the Chris Kyker Endowment for Seniors Fund established under this
subchapter.
Sec. 161.302. CONTRACT TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND INPUT
RELATING TO AGING POPULATION. (a) The executive commissioner may
contract with an entity to:
(1) conduct local forums throughout this state to
solicit input on and discuss policies regarding aging-related
issues;
(2) provide analysis, education, and research
services with respect to aging-related issues; and
(3) identify problems encountered by the aging
population in this state and develop and recommend to the executive
commissioner and the legislature solutions to those problems.
(b) To be eligible for a contract under this section, an
entity must:
(1) be a statewide organization that:
(A) is a Texas nonprofit organization, as that
term is defined by Section 161.075; and
(B) represents people who are 60 years of age or
older; and
(2) have experience and a proven history of conducting
local forums of the kind required by Subsection (a)(1) and
recommending solutions to problems encountered by the aging
population of this state.
(c) A contract entered into under this section may include a
provision that allows a person performing duties under the contract
on behalf of the entity to receive a per diem for days spent
performing those duties and reimbursement for the reasonable travel
expenses incurred in performing those duties at the same rate set in
the General Appropriations Act for state employees.
Sec. 161.303. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF FUND.
(a) The Chris Kyker Endowment for Seniors Fund is established as a
special fund in the treasury outside the general revenue fund.
(b) The fund consists of:
(1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of
the legislature;
(2) grants, gifts, and donations from any other public
or private source contributed to the fund; and
(3) income and interest earned on money in the fund,
including depository interest.
(c) The comptroller shall administer and invest the fund.
(d) The fund is exempt from the application of Sections
403.095 and 404.071, Government Code.
Sec. 161.304. USE OF FUND. (a) The following may be
appropriated only to fund a contract entered into under Section
161.302:
(1) contributions to the fund described by Section
161.303(b)(2); and
(2) income and interest earned on money in the fund
described by Section 161.303(b)(3).
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a), money in the fund
may not be appropriated for any purpose.
(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules regarding
distribution of funding appropriated in accordance with this
section.
SECTION 2. The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
house of representatives shall appoint members of the Legislative
Committee on Aging, as established by this Act, not later than the
30th day after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.