HBA-NMO S.B. 354 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 354 By: Madla Public Health 4/11/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires that the Center for Rural Health Initiatives (center) be abolished on September 1, 1999, unless continued by the legislature. The center is the primary state resource to assist government and rural communities in planning, coordinating, and advocating for continued access to health care services for three million rural Texans. The center also provides loans and scholarships. The center's nine-member executive committee is responsible for overseeing the annual budget of $1.5 million, and the Texas Department of Health is responsible for providing administrative services to the center. S.B. 354 continues the center to until September 1, 2011, with modifications. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 106.003, 106.021, and 106.024, Health and Safety Code, as follows: Sec. 106.003. SUNSET PROVISION. Provides that unless continued in existence as provided by the Texas Sunset Act, the Center for Rural Health Initiatives (center) is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2011, rather than 1999. Sec. 106.021. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Sets forth the composition of the executive committee of the Center for Rural Health Initiatives. Adds standard language developed by the Sunset Advisory Commission (standard Sunset language) regarding appointments to the executive committee. Requires the executive committee to hold a regular meeting at least quarterly, and to hold a special meeting at the call of the presiding officer or at the written request of three members of the executive committee. Requires the executive committee to adopt rules for the conduct of the meetings. Deletes text on elected and appointed members of the executive committee. Makes conforming changes. Sec. 106.024. ADMINISTRATIVE AND STAFF SUPPORT. Requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to enter into a formal agreement with the executive committee to provide staff support. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections 106.0211-106.0216, 106.0221, 106.0222, 106.027, and 106.028, as follows: Sec. 106.0211. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Defines "Texas trade association." Adds standard Sunset language regarding conflicts of interest. Sec. 106.0212. TRAINING FOR MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Adds standard Sunset language regarding training for members of the executive committee. Sec. 106.0213. REMOVAL. Adds standard Sunset language removal of a member from the executive committee. Sec. 106.0214. PRESIDING OFFICER. Adds standard Sunset language regarding the presiding officer of the executive committee. Sec. 106.0215. DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY. Requires the executive committee to develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policymaking responsibilities of the executive committee and the management responsibilities of the executive director and staff of the center. Sec. 106.0216. PUBLIC HEARINGS. Adds standard Sunset language regarding public hearings. Sec. 106.0221. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT. Adds standard Sunset language regarding the equal employment opportunity policy statement. Sec. 106.0222. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. Adds standard Sunset language regarding standards of conduct. Sec. 106.027. COMPLAINTS. Adds standard Sunset language regarding complaints. Sec. 106.028. RURAL HEALTH WORK PLAN. Requires the center to develop, implement, and update a rural health work plan. Requires the center to submit the rural health work plan to the executive committee for approval. Requires the executive committee to approve the rural health work plan, no later than August 1 of each odd-numbered year. Requires the center to work with health care providers, rural communities, universities, TDH, and all other health and human service related state agencies to develop the rural health work plan. Requires the center to solicit public comment on the rural health work plan. Requires the rural health work plan to identify certain provisions. SECTION 3. (a) Provides that the terms of all membership positions on the executive committee of the center, as those positions exist on the effective date of this Act, expire August 31, 1999. Provides that the members whose terms expire on August 31, 1999, continue to hold office until their successors are appointed as provided by Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, qualify for office, and complete the training program as required by Section 106.0212, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. Requires the governor to designate to which membership position expiring August 31, 1999, each member appointed under Chapter 106, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, succeeds. (b) Requires the governor to designate three of the appointees for terms expiring February 1, 2001, three for terms expiring February 1, 2003, and three for terms expiring February 1, 2005, in making the initial appointments to fill the positions expiring August 31, 1999. (c) Requires the center to submit the first rural health work plan required by Section 106.028, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, to the executive committee for approval, and the executive committee to approve a work plan, no later than October 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Effective date: August 30, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.