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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 757
By: Coleman
Public Health
2/20/2001
Introduced



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 goal 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 multi-cultural, disadvantaged, and
regional populations. In performing its duties, the bill requires the task
force to consult with the Texas Department of Health (department), the
office of minority health and cultural competency, the bureau of women's
health, and any other relevant bureau, office, or unit of the department. 

H.B. 757 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
the department toward eliminating health and health access disparities and
sets forth reporting requirements. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.