By: Lucio, et al. S.B. No. 1680
(Raymond)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a task force of border health officials.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 120 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 120. TASK FORCE OF BORDER HEALTH OFFICIALS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 120.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Border region" means the area consisting of the
counties immediately adjacent to the international boundary
between the United States and Mexico.
(2) "Task force" means the Task Force of Border Health
Officials.
Sec. 120.002. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject
to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless
continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force
is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2029.
SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 120.051. TASK FORCE; DUTIES. (a) The department
shall establish the Task Force of Border Health Officials to advise
the commissioner:
(1) on policy priorities addressing major issues
affecting the border region residents' health and health
conditions;
(2) on raising public awareness of the issues
described by Subdivision (1); and
(3) on other health issues impacting the border region
as determined by the commissioner, including:
(A) barriers to accessing health care;
(B) health problems affecting the region,
including:
(i) diabetes;
(ii) infant mortality;
(iii) heart disease and stroke;
(iv) obesity;
(v) cervical cancer; and
(vi) communicable diseases, including
tuberculosis;
(C) factors that impede access to health care,
including:
(i) socioeconomic conditions;
(ii) linguistic and cultural barriers;
(iii) low population density; and
(iv) lack of health insurance;
(D) surveillance and tracking of communicable
diseases, environmental factors, and other factors negatively
influencing health;
(E) standardization of data to ensure
compatibility with data collected by border states on both sides of
the international border with Mexico;
(F) public health infrastructure that includes
education and research institutions to train culturally competent
health care providers;
(G) establishment of local and regional public
health programs that build on local resources and maximize the use
of public dollars to address the needs of the indigent population;
and
(H) collaboration and cooperation with Mexican
counterparts of the task force at the state and federal level, and
collaboration with federal counterparts in the United States.
(b) The task force shall study and make recommendations
relating to the health problems, conditions, challenges, and needs
of the population in the border region.
(c) The task force shall submit a report of recommendations
to the commissioner for short-term and long-term border plans, as
described by Subchapter C, not later than November 1 of each
even-numbered year.
Sec. 120.052. COLLABORATION WITH OFFICE OF BORDER HEALTH.
The Office of Border Health established under Section 12.071 shall
provide staff support to the task force and any other assistance as
needed or required by the task force, if practicable.
Sec. 120.053. COMPOSITION; TERMS. (a) The task force is
composed of:
(1) the health department directors appointed under
Section 121.033 from:
(A) each county in the border region; and
(B) each municipality in the border region that
has a sister city in Mexico;
(2) two ex officio nonvoting members who are members
of the legislature:
(A) one of whom is appointed by the lieutenant
governor; and
(B) one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives; and
(3) additional members appointed by the commissioner.
(b) The commissioner shall designate a chair and vice chair
of the task force from among the task force members.
(c) The members appointed by the lieutenant governor and the
speaker of the house of representatives serve three-year terms.
Sec. 120.054. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at
least quarterly each fiscal year. Members may hold meetings by
conference calls and through videoconference in accordance with
Section 551.127, Government Code.
(b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting
held by conference call under this section, except that Section
551.125(b), Government Code, does not apply.
Sec. 120.055. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A task force
member is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for
expenses incurred in performing the member's duties.
SUBCHAPTER C. BORDER HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Sec. 120.101. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PLANS. (a) The
task force shall make recommendations to the commissioner for
short-term and long-term border health improvement plans. The
short-term plan shall identify health objectives proposed to be
accomplished before the fourth anniversary of the date the plan is
adopted. The long-term plan shall identify health objectives
proposed to be accomplished before the ninth anniversary of the
date the plan is adopted.
(b) The commissioner shall review the task force's
recommendations and, based on those recommendations, recommend
short-term and long-term border health improvement plans to the
executive commissioner, identifying specific health objectives
that may be implemented under existing law.
(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt short-term and
long-term border health improvement plans and direct the department
to implement the portions of the plans that may be implemented
within existing appropriations under existing law.
(d) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year,
the executive commissioner shall submit a report detailing the
actions taken by the task force. The report must include:
(1) the status of all projects and activities
involving the health issues described under Section 120.051(a)(3);
(2) the funding for the expenditures; and
(3) recommendations for legislation necessary to
implement the short-term and long-term border health improvement
plans.
Sec. 120.102. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
Sec. 120.103. ASSISTANCE FROM STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS. At the request of the task force, a state agency or
political subdivision of this state may cooperate with the task
force to the greatest extent practicable to fully implement the
task force's statutory duties.
SECTION 2. (a) The commissioner of state health services,
lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
shall appoint the members of the Task Force of Border Health
Officials established by this Act not later than October 1, 2017.
(b) The initial short-term border health improvement plan
adopted under Section 120.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act, must include a border health improvement plan for
implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2018. The
Department of State Health Services shall implement the initiatives
in the short-term border health improvement plan, as directed by
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission, not later than September 1, 2022.
(c) The initial long-term border health improvement plan
adopted under Section 120.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act, must include a border health improvement plan for
implementation beginning not later than September 1, 2020. The
Department of State Health Services shall implement the initiatives
in the long-term border health improvement plan, as directed by the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission,
not later than September 1, 2027.
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, 2017.