HBA-NRS H.B. 757 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 757
By: Coleman
Public Health
7/19/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
 
In 1993, the 73rd Texas Legislature mandated the creation of the Office of
Minority Health and Cultural Competency (OMH/CC). OMH/CC's mission is
promoting and coordinating initiatives designed to improve the health of
all minority and disadvantaged populations in Texas. Since the inception of
OMH/CC several programs have been created to address health disparities.
The operation of these initiatives has generated new opportunities to
eliminate health and health access disparities in Texas. House Bill 757
establishes the health disparities task force, which is charged with
consulting with the Texas Department of Health and OMH/CC in eliminating
health and health access disparities in Texas among multicultural,
disadvantaged, and regional populations.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 757 amends the Health and Safety Code to establish and set forth
the purpose of the health disparities task force (task force). The bill
sets forth the required duties of the task force related to eliminating
health and health access disparities among multicultural, disadvantaged,
and regional populations. In performing its duties, the bill requires the
task force to consult with the Texas Department of Health (TDH), the Office
of Minority Health and Cultural Competency, women's health offices of TDH,
and any other relevant division of TDH.  

The bill provides for the appointment, composition, administration, and
operation of the task force. The bill provides that provisions applicable
to state agency advisory committees do not apply to the task force. The
bill requires the task force to submit an annual report on the progress of
TDH in accomplishing health access goals to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.