| 1 | 1 | | 81R11524 ALB-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1781 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the establishment of a wellness grant program for |
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| 8 | 8 | | individuals with disabilities. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, |
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| 11 | 11 | | is amended by adding Section 117.077 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 117.077. WELLNESS GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN |
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| 13 | 13 | | INDIVIDUALS. (a) The department shall establish a program to award |
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| 14 | 14 | | grants to public and nonprofit organizations that promote good |
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| 15 | 15 | | health, disease prevention, and wellness for individuals with |
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| 16 | 16 | | disabilities. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) To apply for a grant under this section, an applicant |
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| 18 | 18 | | must submit an application in the form and manner prescribed by the |
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| 19 | 19 | | department. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) The types of programs that may be funded by grants under |
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| 21 | 21 | | this section include: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) programs designed to assist with smoking |
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| 23 | 23 | | cessation, weight control, nutrition, or fitness that focus on the |
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| 24 | 24 | | unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) preventive health screening programs to reduce the |
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| 26 | 26 | | incidence of secondary conditions; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) athletic, exercise, or sports programs that |
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| 28 | 28 | | provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to increase |
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| 29 | 29 | | the individual's level of physical activity in a dedicated or |
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| 30 | 30 | | adaptive recreational environment. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (d) The executive commissioner may appoint an advisory |
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| 32 | 32 | | committee consisting of interested individuals with relevant |
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| 33 | 33 | | expertise to: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (1) review grant applications and make |
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| 35 | 35 | | recommendations to the department; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (2) evaluate the progress of the program. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (e) The department shall establish an outreach program to |
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| 38 | 38 | | inform public and nonprofit organizations of the existence of the |
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| 39 | 39 | | grant program and the application requirements. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (f) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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| 41 | 41 | | the department shall submit a report to the legislature summarizing |
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| 42 | 42 | | the activities, funding, and outcomes of programs awarded a grant |
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| 43 | 43 | | under this section and providing recommendations regarding the |
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| 44 | 44 | | grant program. |
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| 45 | 45 | | (g) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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| 46 | 46 | | donations of money from the federal government, local governments, |
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| 47 | 47 | | private corporations, and other persons to be used for the purposes |
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| 48 | 48 | | of the grant program. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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| 50 | 50 | | a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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| 51 | 51 | | federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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| 52 | 52 | | the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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| 53 | 53 | | authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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| 54 | 54 | | waiver or authorization is granted. |
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| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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