By: Coleman, Rose, J. Johnson of Harris, H.B. No. 4139
Howard, Thompson of Harris, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Office for Health Equity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 107A, Health and Safety Code, is amended
to read as follows:
CHAPTER 107A. CENTER FOR ELIMINATION OF DISPROPORTIONALITY AND
DISPARITIES
Sec. 107A.001. THE OFFICE [CENTER] FOR HEALTH EQUITY
[ELIMINATION OF DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES]. The
executive commissioner shall maintain an office [a center] for
health equity [elimination of disproportionality and disparities]
in the commission to:
(1) assume a leadership role in working or contracting
with state and federal agencies, universities, private interest
groups, communities, foundations, and offices of minority health to
develop and implement health initiatives to create health equity by
decreasing [decrease] or eliminating [eliminate] health and health
access disparities among racial, multicultural, disadvantaged,
ethnic, women's health, age, language, and regional populations,
including appropriate language services; and
(2) seek out state and federal agencies, universities,
private interest groups, communities, foundations, and offices of
minority, women's, or age health in order to coordinate and
maximize use of existing resources without duplicating existing
efforts.
Sec. 107A.002. POWERS OF THE OFFICE [CENTER]. The office
[center] may:
(1) provide a central information and referral source,
including a clearinghouse for health disparities information, and
serve as the primary state resource in coordinating, planning,
[and] advocating, and implementing access to health care services
to eliminate health disparities in this state;
(2) coordinate conferences and other training
opportunities to increase skills among state agencies and
government staff in management and in the appreciation of cultural
diversity;
(3) pursue and administer grant funds for innovative
projects for communities, universities, groups, and individuals;
(4) provide recommendations and training in improving
minority recruitment in state agencies;
(5) publicize, distribute, and implement information
and evidence-based strategies to promote health equity and
eliminate [regarding] health disparities and minority health
issues through the use of the media;
(6) network with existing minority organizations,
community-based health groups, faith-based organizations, and
statewide health coalitions;
(7) solicit, receive, and spend grants, gifts, and
donations from public and private sources; [and]
(8) contract with public and private entities in the
performance of its responsibilities;
(9) investigate and report on issues related to health
and health access disparities among multicultural, ethnic,
disadvantaged, women's health, age, language, and regional
populations;
(10) coordinate and work with local health authorities
to collect and report data related to health and health access
disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic, women's
health, age, language, and regional populations;
(11) make the de-identified data collected in
Subdivision (10) readily available to the public;
(12) monitor existing and emerging trends in
behavioral health, morbidity, and mortality among multicultural,
disadvantaged, ethnic, women's health, age, language, and regional
populations;
(13) develop and implement short-term and long-term
strategies to promote health equity and eliminate health and health
access disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic,
women's health, age, language, and regional populations;
(14) monitor the progress of the commission and the
providers it contracts with in promoting health equity and
eliminating the health and health access disparities;
(15) advise and assist the commission on the
implementation of any targeted programs or funding authorized by
the legislature to address health and health access disparities;
(16) examine the role that disparities in education,
criminal justice, housing, economic opportunity, environment, and
other social determinants contribute to disparities in health
access and outcomes;
(17) examine how health disparities impact access to
educational, housing, and economic opportunity; and
(18) advise the commission on provider contracting to
ensure that the commission contracts with providers that promote
health equity and eliminate health and health access disparities
among multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic, women's health, age,
language, and regional populations.
Sec. 107A.003. FUNDING. The commission may distribute to
the office:
(1) [center] unobligated and unexpended
appropriations to be used to carry out its powers;
(2) appropriations of money to the fund by the
legislature; or
(3) gifts, grants, including grants from the federal
government, and other donations received for the fund.
Sec. 107A.004. PROVIDER CONTRACTS. (a) The commission
shall work with the office during all contract procurement to
ensure that providers promote health equity and eliminate health
and health access disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged,
ethnic, women's health, age, language, and regional populations.
(b) The office shall assist providers contracted with the
commission implement programs and strategies that promote health
equity and eliminate health and health access disparities among
multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic, women's health, age,
language, and regional populations.
Sec. 107A.005. CROSS-AGENCY ASSISTANCE. The office may
work with other Texas agencies to advise and assist in
implementation of programs and strategies aimed at eliminating
social determinants that cause health and health access disparities
among multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic, women's health, age,
language, and regional populations.
Sec. 107A.006. COVID-19 DISPARITIES. (a) In this section,
"COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus.
(b) The center shall conduct a study to assess the
disproportionate effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on racial,
multicultural, ethnic, disadvantaged, women's health, age, and
regional populations in this state. In conducting the study, the
center shall:
(1) determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic
disproportionately affected certain racial, multicultural, ethnic,
disadvantaged, women's health, age, language, and regional
populations in this state;
(2) if the center determines a particular population
was disproportionately affected by the pandemic, identify the
underlying causes of that disproportionate effect; and
(3) recommend policies and procedures for promoting
health equity during a future natural disaster, pandemic, or other
public health emergency.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the center shall submit
to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and members of the legislature a written report on
the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or
other action.
(d) This section expires August 31, 2023.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.