Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB202 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R1817 EAS-D
2	2	By: Thierry H.B. No. 202
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5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to renaming the Center for Elimination of
8	8	Disproportionality and Disparities to the office of health equity
9	9	and to the duties of that office.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 107A, Health and Safety Code, is amended
12	12	to read as follows:
13	13	CHAPTER 107A. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY [CENTER FOR ELIMINATION OF
14	14	DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES]
15	15	Sec. 107A.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "office" means
16	16	the office of health equity established under this chapter.
17	17	Sec. 107A.002. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY [107A.001. CENTER
18	18	FOR ELIMINATION OF DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES]. (a) The
19	19	executive commissioner shall maintain an office of health equity
20	20	within [a center for elimination of disproportionality and
21	21	disparities in] the commission to:
22	22	(1) assume a leadership role in working or contracting
23	23	with state and federal agencies, universities, private interest
24	24	groups, communities, foundations, and offices of minority health to
25	25	develop health initiatives to decrease or eliminate health and
26	26	health access disparities [among racial, multicultural,
27	27	disadvantaged, ethnic, and regional populations, including
28	28	appropriate language services;] and improve health equity across
29	29	the state, including rural and urban communities, regardless of a
30	30	person's race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; and
31	31	(2) maximize use of existing resources without
32	32	duplicating existing efforts.
33	33	(b) The health initiatives developed under Subsection (a)
34	34	must include initiatives to increase access to appropriate language
35	35	services in health care settings.
36	36	Sec. 107A.003 [107A.002]. POWERS OF OFFICE [CENTER]. The
37	37	office [center] may:
38	38	(1) provide a central information and referral source,
39	39	including a clearinghouse for health disparities information, and
40	40	serve as the primary state resource in coordinating, planning, and
41	41	advocating access to health care services to eliminate health
42	42	disparities in this state;
43	43	(2) coordinate conferences and other training
44	44	opportunities to increase skills among state agencies and
45	45	government staff in management and in the appreciation of cultural
46	46	diversity;
47	47	(3) pursue and administer grant funds for innovative
48	48	projects for communities, groups, and individuals;
49	49	(4) provide recommendations and training in improving
50	50	minority recruitment in state agencies;
51	51	(5) publicize information regarding health
52	52	disparities and minority health issues through the use of the
53	53	media;
54	54	(6) network with existing minority organizations,
55	55	community-based health groups, and statewide health coalitions;
56	56	(7) solicit, receive, and spend grants, gifts, and
57	57	donations from public and private sources; and
58	58	(8) contract with public and private entities in the
59	59	performance of its responsibilities.
60	60	Sec. 107A.004 [107A.003]. FUNDING. The commission may
61	61	distribute to the office [center] unobligated and unexpended
62	62	appropriations to be used to carry out the office's [its] powers and
63	63	perform the office's duties.
64	64	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.