Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB420 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R1067 JG-D
2	2	By: Sherman, Sr. H.B. No. 420
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of a task force on maternal mortality
8	8	in African American women.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
12	12	SUBCHAPTER G. TASK FORCE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN
13	13	AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN
14	14	Sec. 32.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"
15	15	means the task force established by the executive commissioner
16	16	under Section 32.202.
17	17	Sec. 32.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The executive
18	18	commissioner shall establish a task force to:
19	19	(1) study maternal mortality rates for African
20	20	American women and any related disparities; and
21	21	(2) develop and provide recommendations on improving
22	22	maternal health outcomes among African American women.
23	23	Sec. 32.203. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE; PRESIDING OFFICER;
24	24	COMPENSATION. (a) The task force is composed of nine members
25	25	appointed by the executive commissioner as follows:
26	26	(1) three licensed obstetricians or gynecologists
27	27	certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology each
28	28	with 15 or more years of experience in either field and a patient
29	29	base consisting of not less than 25 percent individuals who are
30	30	members of a racial minority;
31	31	(2) one primary care physician with 15 or more years of
32	32	experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health;
33	33	(3) one surgeon with 15 or more years of experience in
34	34	that field and whose expertise is in maternal health;
35	35	(4) one anesthesiologist with 15 or more years of
36	36	experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health;
37	37	(5) one licensed mental health professional with 15 or
38	38	more years of experience in that field and whose expertise is in
39	39	postpartum depression; and
40	40	(6) two individuals with relevant and appropriate
41	41	expertise in maternal health.
42	42	(b) In making the appointments under Subsection (a)(1), the
43	43	executive commissioner shall ensure:
44	44	(1) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with
45	45	10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of
46	46	neonatology;
47	47	(2) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with
48	48	10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of
49	49	perinatology; and
50	50	(3) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with
51	51	experience working at a community hospital as an obstetrician or
52	52	gynecologist for less than nine years.
53	53	(c) The task force members shall elect a presiding officer
54	54	from among the membership of the task force.
55	55	(d) The executive commissioner shall fill a vacancy on the
56	56	task force by appointing a person who has the same qualifications as
57	57	required for the original appointee.
58	58	(e) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for
59	59	service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for
60	60	actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force
61	61	duties authorized by the presiding officer, provided funding is
62	62	available for that purpose.
63	63	Sec. 32.204. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at
64	64	least quarterly and at other times at the call of the presiding
65	65	officer.
66	66	(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any
67	67	other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call,
68	68	videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A
69	69	meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or
70	70	other similar telecommunication method is subject to the
71	71	requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government
72	72	Code.
73	73	Sec. 32.205. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The task force
74	74	may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to carry out
75	75	task force duties under this subchapter.
76	76	Sec. 32.206. BIENNIAL REPORTS; IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN
77	77	RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Not later than September 1 of each
78	78	even-numbered year, the task force shall prepare and submit to each
79	79	member of the legislature and the commission a report that:
80	80	(1) includes the results of the study conducted by the
81	81	task force and recommendations for legislative or regulatory action
82	82	based on those results; and
83	83	(2) examines and considers any trends or changes in
84	84	maternal health.
85	85	(b) To the extent permitted by law and as the executive
86	86	commissioner determines appropriate, the commission shall
87	87	implement any regulatory recommendations included in a report under
88	88	this section that are within the commission's prescribed authority.
89	89	Sec. 32.207. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110,
90	90	Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
91	91	Sec. 32.208. TASK FORCE ABOLISHMENT; EXPIRATION OF
92	92	SUBCHAPTER. The task force is abolished and this subchapter
93	93	expires September 1, 2029.
94	94	SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2021, the executive
95	95	commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
96	96	establish and appoint members to the task force on maternal
97	97	mortality in African American women in accordance with Subchapter
98	98	G, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
99	99	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.