88R6405 LRM-F
	By: Walle	H.B. No. 1785

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and
	Disparities renamed as the office for health equity and the duties
	of that office.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 107A, Health and Safety Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 107A.  OFFICE FOR HEALTH EQUITY [CENTER FOR ELIMINATION OF
	DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES]
	Sec. 107A.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1)  "Office" means the office for health equity
	established under this chapter.
	(2)  "Provider" has the meaning assigned by Section
	531.1011, Government Code.
	Sec. 107A.002.  OFFICE FOR HEALTH EQUITY [CENTER FOR
	ELIMINATION OF DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES]. (a) The
	executive commissioner shall maintain an office [a center] for
	health equity within [elimination of disproportionality and
	disparities in] the commission to:
	(1)  assume a leadership role in working or contracting
	with state and federal agencies, universities, private interest
	groups, communities, foundations, and offices of minority health to
	develop and implement health initiatives to create health equity
	and decrease or eliminate health and health access disparities
	among women and racial, multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic, and
	regional populations, and across age brackets and linguistic groups
	in this state[, including appropriate language services]; and
	(2)  coordinate with state and federal agencies,
	universities, private interest groups, communities, foundations,
	and offices that provide health care services to women and specific
	minority and age groups in this state to 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. 107A.003 [107A.002].  POWERS OF OFFICE [CENTER]. The
	office [center] 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,
	implementing, 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 staff in management and in the appreciation of cultural
	diversity;
	(3)  pursue and administer grant funds for innovative
	projects for universities, communities, groups, and individuals;
	(4)  provide recommendations and training in improving
	minority recruitment in state agencies;
	(5)  publicize, implement, and disseminate information
	and evidence-based strategies to promote health equity and
	eliminate [regarding] health disparities and minority health
	issues through the use of the media;
	(6)  network with existing minority organizations,
	community-based health groups, faith-based organizations, 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;
	(9)  coordinate with local health authorities to
	investigate and report on issues related to health and health
	access disparities among women and racial, multicultural,
	disadvantaged, ethnic, and regional populations, and across age
	brackets and linguistic groups in this state;
	(10)  publish on the office's publicly accessible
	Internet website the results of an investigation under Subdivision
	(9) and any data collected during the investigation, omitting any
	data that includes an individual's personally identifying
	information;
	(11)  monitor existing and emerging trends in
	behavioral health, morbidity, and mortality rates among women and