By: King of Hemphill H.B. No. 4599
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the transfer of duties of the State Office of Rural
Health from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of
State Health Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. On September 1, 2023:
(1) the administration of the State Office of the
Rural Health is transferred from the Office of Rural Affairs under
the Texas Department of Agriculture to the Department of State
Health Services;
(2) all rules, policies, procedures, and decisions of
the Office of Rural Affairs or the Department of Agriculture
relating to the administration of the State Office of Rural Health
are continued in effect as rules, policies, procedures, and
decisions of the office until superseded by a rule or other
appropriate action by Department of State Health Services; and
(3) a reference in law or administrative rule to the
Department of Agriculture or State Office of Rural Affairs relating
to the administration of the State Office of Rural Affairs means
Department of State Health Services.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 12, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 12.021 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.021. STATE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH. The department
shall ensure that the office qualifies as the state's office of
rural health for the purpose of receiving grants from the Office of
Rural Health Policy of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services under 42 U.S.C. Section 254r.
SECTION 3. Subdivision 487.051(9), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. 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, 2023.