Bill Text: TX HB472 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the office of health equity within the Health and Human Services Commission.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to Public Health [HB472 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB472-Introduced.html
| 88R3097 LRM-D | ||
| By: Thierry | H.B. No. 472 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the creation of the office of health equity within the | ||
| Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Chapter 107B to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 107B. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY | ||
| Sec. 107B.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "office" means | ||
| the office of health equity established under this chapter. | ||
| Sec. 107B.002. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY. (a) The executive | ||
| commissioner shall maintain an office of health equity within the | ||
| commission to: | ||
| (1) assume a leadership role in collaborating or | ||
| contracting with state and federal agencies, universities, private | ||
| interest groups, communities, foundations, and offices of minority | ||
| health in the development of health initiatives to decrease or | ||
| eliminate health and health access disparities and improve health | ||
| equity across the state, including rural and urban communities, | ||
| regardless of a person's race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; | ||
| and | ||
| (2) maximize use of existing resources without | ||
| duplicating existing efforts. | ||
| (b) The health initiatives developed under Subsection (a) | ||
| must include initiatives to increase access to appropriate language | ||
| services in health care settings. | ||
| Sec. 107B.003. POWERS OF OFFICE. The office may: | ||
| (1) provide a central information and referral source, | ||
| including a clearinghouse for health disparities information, and | ||
| serve as the primary state resource in coordinating, planning, and | ||
| advocating access to health care services to eliminate health | ||
| disparities in this state; | ||
| (2) coordinate conferences and other training | ||
| opportunities to increase skills among state agencies and | ||
| government personnel in management and in the appreciation of | ||
| cultural diversity; | ||
| (3) pursue and administer grant funds for innovative | ||
| projects for communities, groups, and individuals; | ||
| (4) provide recommendations and training in improving | ||
| minority recruitment in state agencies; | ||
| (5) publicize information regarding health | ||
| disparities and minority health issues through the use of mass | ||
| media; | ||
| (6) network with existing minority organizations, | ||
| community-based health groups, and statewide health coalitions; | ||
| (7) solicit, receive, and spend grants, gifts, and | ||
| donations from public and private sources; and | ||
| (8) contract with public and private entities in the | ||
| performance of its responsibilities. | ||
| Sec. 107B.004. FUNDING. The commission may use existing | ||
| resources and solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from | ||
| any source to carry out the office's powers and perform the office's | ||
| duties. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
