| 1 | 1 | | 88R3097 LRM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Thierry H.B. No. 472 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation of the office of health equity within the |
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| 8 | 8 | | Health and Human Services Commission. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Chapter 107B to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | CHAPTER 107B. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 107B.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "office" means |
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| 14 | 14 | | the office of health equity established under this chapter. |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 107B.002. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY. (a) The executive |
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| 16 | 16 | | commissioner shall maintain an office of health equity within the |
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| 17 | 17 | | commission to: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) assume a leadership role in collaborating or |
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| 19 | 19 | | contracting with state and federal agencies, universities, private |
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| 20 | 20 | | interest groups, communities, foundations, and offices of minority |
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| 21 | 21 | | health in the development of health initiatives to decrease or |
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| 22 | 22 | | eliminate health and health access disparities and improve health |
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| 23 | 23 | | equity across the state, including rural and urban communities, |
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| 24 | 24 | | regardless of a person's race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; |
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| 25 | 25 | | and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) maximize use of existing resources without |
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| 27 | 27 | | duplicating existing efforts. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) The health initiatives developed under Subsection (a) |
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| 29 | 29 | | must include initiatives to increase access to appropriate language |
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| 30 | 30 | | services in health care settings. |
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| 31 | 31 | | Sec. 107B.003. POWERS OF OFFICE. The office may: |
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| 32 | 32 | | (1) provide a central information and referral source, |
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| 33 | 33 | | including a clearinghouse for health disparities information, and |
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| 34 | 34 | | serve as the primary state resource in coordinating, planning, and |
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| 35 | 35 | | advocating access to health care services to eliminate health |
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| 36 | 36 | | disparities in this state; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) coordinate conferences and other training |
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| 38 | 38 | | opportunities to increase skills among state agencies and |
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| 39 | 39 | | government personnel in management and in the appreciation of |
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| 40 | 40 | | cultural diversity; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (3) pursue and administer grant funds for innovative |
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| 42 | 42 | | projects for communities, groups, and individuals; |
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| 43 | 43 | | (4) provide recommendations and training in improving |
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| 44 | 44 | | minority recruitment in state agencies; |
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| 45 | 45 | | (5) publicize information regarding health |
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| 46 | 46 | | disparities and minority health issues through the use of mass |
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| 47 | 47 | | media; |
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| 48 | 48 | | (6) network with existing minority organizations, |
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| 49 | 49 | | community-based health groups, and statewide health coalitions; |
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| 50 | 50 | | (7) solicit, receive, and spend grants, gifts, and |
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| 51 | 51 | | donations from public and private sources; and |
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| 52 | 52 | | (8) contract with public and private entities in the |
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| 53 | 53 | | performance of its responsibilities. |
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| 54 | 54 | | Sec. 107B.004. FUNDING. The commission may use existing |
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| 55 | 55 | | resources and solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from |
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| 56 | 56 | | any source to carry out the office's powers and perform the office's |
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| 57 | 57 | | duties. |
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| 58 | 58 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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