Bill Text: TX HB259 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced

Texas House Bill 259 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of subcommittees within the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee to study maternal mortality.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-13 - Filed [HB259 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB259-Introduced.html

	87S10901 JG-D

	By: Sherman, Sr.	H.B. No. 259



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of subcommittees within the Texas
	Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee to study maternal
	mortality.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
	adding Sections 34.022, 34.023, and 34.024 to read as follows:
	Sec. 34.022. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MATERNAL HEALTH DISPARITIES.
	(a) In this section, "subcommittee" means the subcommittee on
	maternal health disparities established under this section.
	(b) The department and the review committee shall
	establish, within the review committee, a subcommittee on maternal
	health disparities to:
	(1) study maternal mortality rates among women in this
	state; and
	(2) develop and provide recommendations to the
	department and the review committee on improving maternal health
	outcomes.
	(c) The subcommittee is composed of a number of members who
	meet appropriate qualifications as determined by the department and
	review committee.
	(d) A member of the subcommittee serves at the pleasure of
	the department and the review committee.
	(e) The members of the subcommittee shall elect a presiding
	officer from among the membership of the subcommittee.
	(f) The subcommittee may accept gifts, grants, and
	donations from any source to carry out the subcommittee's duties
	imposed under this section.
	(g) The subcommittee is abolished and this section expires
	September 1, 2031.
	Sec. 34.023. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MATERNAL HEALTH DISPARITIES
	FOR BLACK WOMEN. (a) In this section, "subcommittee" means the
	subcommittee on maternal health disparities for black women
	established under this section.
	(b) The department and the review committee shall
	establish, within the review committee, a subcommittee on maternal
	health disparities for black women to:
	(1) study maternal mortality rates for black women in
	this state and any related disparities; and
	(2) develop and provide recommendations to the
	department and the review committee on improving maternal health
	outcomes among black women in this state.
	(c) The subcommittee is composed of 11 members appointed by
	the department and the review committee as follows:
	(1) three licensed obstetricians or gynecologists
	certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, each
	with 15 or more years of experience in either field and a patient
	base consisting of not less than 25 percent of individuals who are
	members of a racial minority;
	(2) one primary care physician with 15 or more years of
	experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health;
	(3) one surgeon with 15 or more years of experience in
	that field and whose expertise is in maternal health;
	(4) one anesthesiologist with 15 or more years of
	experience in that field and whose expertise is in maternal health;
	(5) one licensed mental health professional with 15 or
	more years of experience in that field and whose expertise is in
	postpartum depression;
	(6) one neonatologist;
	(7) one perinatologist; and
	(8) two individuals with relevant and appropriate
	expertise in maternal health.
	(d) In making the appointments under Subsection (c)(1), the
	department and the review committee shall ensure:
	(1) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with
	10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of
	neonatology;
	(2) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with
	10 or more years of experience specializing in the field of
	perinatology; and
	(3) one member is an obstetrician or gynecologist with
	experience working at a community hospital as an obstetrician or
	gynecologist for less than nine years.
	(e) The members of the subcommittee shall elect a presiding
	officer from among the membership of the subcommittee.
	(f) The department and the review committee shall fill a
	vacancy on the subcommittee by appointing a person who has the same
	qualifications as required for the original appointee.
	(g) A member of the subcommittee is not entitled to
	compensation for service on the subcommittee but is entitled to
	reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in
	performing subcommittee duties authorized by the presiding
	officer, provided funding is available for that purpose.
	(h) The subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly and at
	other times at the call of the presiding officer.
	(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any
	other law, the subcommittee may meet by telephone conference call,
	videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A
	meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or
	other similar telecommunication method is subject to the
	requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government
	Code.
	(j) The subcommittee may accept gifts, grants, and
	donations from any source to carry out the subcommittee duties
	imposed under this section.
	(k) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
	subcommittee established under this section.
	(l) The subcommittee established under this section and
	this section expire on September 1, 2031.
	Sec. 34.024. BIENNIAL REPORTS; IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN
	RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Not later than September 1 of each
	even-numbered year, the subcommittees established under Sections
	34.022 and 34.023 shall each prepare and submit to each member of
	the legislature, the department, and the review committee a report
	that:
	(1) includes the results of the study conducted by
	each subcommittee and recommendations for legislative or
	regulatory action based on those results; and
	(2) examines and considers any trends or changes in
	maternal health.
	(b) To the extent permitted by law and as the executive
	commissioner determines appropriate, the commission shall
	implement any regulatory recommendations included in a report under
	this section that are within the commission's prescribed authority.
	(c) This section expires September 1, 2031.
	SECTION 2. Not later than February 1, 2022, the Department
	of State Health Services and the Texas Maternal Mortality and
	Morbidity Review Committee established under Chapter 34, Health and
	Safety Code, shall establish and appoint members to the
	subcommittees as required under Sections 34.022 and 34.023, Health
	and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect December 1, 2021.