Bill Text: TX HB2902 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a task force to study factors contributing to disproportionate COVID-19 outcomes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-18 - Referred to Public Health [HB2902 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2902-Introduced.html
87R3839 MCF-D | ||
By: Rodriguez | H.B. No. 2902 |
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relating to the creation of a task force to study factors | ||
contributing to disproportionate COVID-19 outcomes. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
(1) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus | ||
disease. | ||
(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive | ||
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
(3) "Task force" means the task force established | ||
under Section 2 of this Act. | ||
SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The executive | ||
commissioner shall establish a task force to: | ||
(1) identify and evaluate factors that contribute to | ||
the disproportionate development of severe illness, | ||
hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19 infection among racial | ||
and ethnic minorities; | ||
(2) assess this state's data collection practices | ||
related to COVID-19 testing and vaccination and the rates of | ||
hospitalization and death for people infected with COVID-19; | ||
(3) identify and determine the manner in which the | ||
factors identified in Subdivision (1) of this section affect | ||
population health; and | ||
(4) make recommendations for state pandemic response | ||
strategies and public health policy, including recommendations for | ||
improvements for this state's data collection, virus testing, and | ||
immunization strategies. | ||
SECTION 3. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task force | ||
is composed of 21 members as follows: | ||
(1) one member with relevant expertise, appointed by | ||
the governor; | ||
(2) two members with relevant expertise, appointed by | ||
the lieutenant governor; | ||
(3) two members with relevant expertise, appointed by | ||
the speaker of the house of representatives; | ||
(4) the chair of the Texas Hospital Association or the | ||
chair's designee; | ||
(5) the president of the Texas Medical Association or | ||
the president's designee; | ||
(6) the president of the Texas Nurses Association or | ||
the president's designee; and | ||
(7) 13 members appointed by the executive | ||
commissioner, including: | ||
(A) one member who is a licensed physician | ||
specializing in cardiology; | ||
(B) one member who is a licensed physician | ||
specializing in pulmonology; | ||
(C) one member who represents a hospital located | ||
in a rural area of this state; | ||
(D) one member who represents a hospital located | ||
in a county with a population of at least four million; | ||
(E) one member who represents a hospital located | ||
in an urban county with a population of less than four million; | ||
(F) one member who represents a public hospital; | ||
(G) one member who represents a private hospital; | ||
(H) two members who represent unaffiliated | ||
nonprofit community health organizations focused on reducing | ||
racial and ethnic health disparities; | ||
(I) one member who represents a community health | ||
center; | ||
(J) one member who is an epidemiologist; | ||
(K) one member who is a statistician; and | ||
(L) one member who is a public health expert. | ||
(b) The executive commissioner shall appoint a presiding | ||
officer of the task force from among the members of the task force. | ||
(c) The executive commissioner may fill any vacancy that | ||
occurs on the task force and may appoint additional members as | ||
needed. | ||
SECTION 4. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. Not later than November | ||
1, 2021, the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of | ||
representatives, and executive commissioner shall appoint members | ||
to the task force. | ||
SECTION 5. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2022, the | ||
task force shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant | ||
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the | ||
members of the legislature a written report on its findings and | ||
recommendations, including legislative recommendations. | ||
SECTION 6. ABOLISHMENT AND EXPIRATION. The task force is | ||
abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023. | ||
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
1, 2021. |