H.B. No. 3781
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Health Improvement Network.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 118 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 118. TEXAS HEALTH IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 118.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "network" means
the Texas Health Improvement Network established under this
chapter.
SUBCHAPTER B. NETWORK
Sec. 118.051. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a) The Texas
Health Improvement Network is established to address urgent health
care challenges and improve the health care system in this state and
the nation and to develop, based on population health research,
health care initiatives, policies, and best practices.
(b) The purpose of the network is to:
(1) reduce the per capita costs of health care;
(2) improve the individual experience of health care,
including the quality of care and patient satisfaction; and
(3) improve the health of residents of this state.
Sec. 118.052. COMPOSITION OF NETWORK. The network consists
of experts in:
(1) general public health and other medical fields;
(2) mental health;
(3) nursing;
(4) pharmacy;
(5) social work;
(6) health economics;
(7) health policy and law;
(8) epidemiology;
(9) biostatistics;
(10) health informatics;
(11) health services research;
(12) engineering; and
(13) computer science.
Sec. 118.053. DUTIES. (a) The network shall establish as
its primary goals:
(1) evaluating and eliminating health disparities in
this state, including racial, ethnic, geographic, and
income-related or education-related disparities; and
(2) health care cost containment and the economic
analysis of health policy.
(b) The network shall:
(1) function as an incubator and evaluator of health
improvement practices; and
(2) support local communities in this state by
offering leadership training, data analytics, community health
assessments, and grant writing support to local communities.
Sec. 118.054. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS SYSTEM. (a) The network is administratively attached to
The University of Texas System.
(b) The University of Texas System shall administer and
coordinate the network and provide administrative support to the
network as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 118.055. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The network may accept and
administer gifts and grants to fund the network from an individual,
corporation, trust, or foundation or the federal government,
subject to any limitations or conditions imposed by law.
Sec. 118.056. REPORT. The network shall report the results
of the network's efforts, findings, and activities to the
legislature, state and federal partners, and other interested
entities.
SUBCHAPTER C. ADVISORY COUNCIL
Sec. 118.101. ADVISORY COUNCIL. The network shall
establish an advisory council to advise the network on the health
care needs of this state.
Sec. 118.102. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COUNCIL. The
advisory council is composed of:
(1) members who are appointed by an executive officer
of The University of Texas System and nominated by participants in
the network and who are:
(A) state and national leaders in population
health;
(B) experts in traditional public health and
medical fields; and
(C) leaders in the fields of behavioral health,
business, insurance, philanthropy, education, and health law and
policy; and
(2) representatives from the department and the
commission, selected by the executive head of the agency.
Sec. 118.103. TERMS. Members of the advisory council serve
staggered three-year terms, with the terms of one-third of the
members expiring on January 1 of each year.
Sec. 118.104. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive officer of
The University of Texas System who appoints members to the advisory
council shall appoint a presiding officer from among the members to
serve a one-year term.
Sec. 118.105. MEETINGS. The advisory council shall meet at
the call of the presiding officer or at other times that the council
determines are necessary or appropriate.
Sec. 118.106. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the advisory council may not receive compensation for service on
the advisory council but may be reimbursed for travel expenses
incurred by the member while conducting the business of the
advisory council, if funds are available for that purpose, as
provided by the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 118.107. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
Government Code, does not apply to the advisory council.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, The University of Texas System shall establish the
Texas Health Improvement Network as required by Chapter 118, Health
and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3781 was passed by the House on May
15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 108, Nays 11, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 3781 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 8,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3781 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays
2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor