Bill Text: TX HB324 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Computational Health Research Institute.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-25 - Referred to Higher Education [HB324 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB324-Introduced.html

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87R1523 SCL-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 324

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Computational Health
Research Institute.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 54 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 54. TEXAS COMPUTATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 54.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Executive committee" means the executive
committee of the institute.
(2) "Institute" means the Texas Computational Health
Research Institute established under this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER B. INSTITUTE
Sec. 54.0051. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Texas
Computational Health Research Institute is established to leverage
the expertise and capacity of certain health-related institutions
by developing computational models to:
(1) assist health care providers with identifying
individual risk factors when treating a specific disease or injury
or performing a specific health care procedure; and
(2) determine the most cost-effective method to
achieve the optimal health outcome in the treatment of a specific
disease or injury or the performance of a specific health care
procedure.
Sec. 54.0052. COMPOSITION. The institute is composed of:
(1) the Texas Advanced Computing Center;
(2) The University of Texas at Austin; and
(3) other health-related institutions and
health-related institutions of higher education the executive
committee considers necessary, subject to the availability of
funds.
Sec. 54.0053. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. The institute is
administratively attached to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board and is funded solely by money appropriated to
the coordinating board for the institute. The coordinating board
may use an amount not to exceed three percent of the money
appropriated for the institute, as approved by the executive
committee, to provide administrative support to the institute.
SUBCHAPTER C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sec. 54.0101. COMPOSITION. The institute is governed by an
executive committee composed of the following members:
(1) a representative of the Texas Advanced Computing
Center, designated by the executive director of the center;
(2) a representative of The University of Texas at
Austin with expertise in health care, designated by the president
of the university;
(3) a representative of any other health-related
institution or health-related institution of higher education the
executive committee includes in the composition of the institute,
designated by the executive head of the institution; and
(4) any other member, designated by a majority of the
executive committee.
Sec. 54.0102. VACANCY. A vacancy on the executive
committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
Sec. 54.0103. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive committee
shall elect a presiding officer from among the membership of the
executive committee.
Sec. 54.0104. GENERAL DUTIES. The executive committee
shall:
(1) establish procedures for requesting a
computational model that complies with Subchapter D;
(2) establish procedures and policies for the
administration of funds under this chapter; and
(3) establish procedures to document compliance by
executive committee members and staff with applicable laws
governing conflicts of interest.
Sec. 54.0105. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than
January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the executive committee shall
submit a report to the legislature on the achievements of the
institute, including the computational models developed by the
institute, in the preceding two years.
SUBCHAPTER D. HEALTH CARE COMPUTATIONAL MODELING
Sec. 54.0151. REQUEST FOR COMPUTATIONAL MODEL. (a) A
member of the legislature or a health care provider may request the
institute to develop a computational model for:
(1) treating a specific disease or injury; or
(2) performing a specific health care procedure.
(b) The institute shall determine whether to accept a
request to develop a computational model and provide a response to
the requestor not later than the 30th day after the date the request
is received by the institute.
Sec. 54.0152. COMPUTATIONAL MODEL REQUIREMENTS. If the
institute accepts a request under Section 54.0151, the institute
shall develop a computational model that:
(1) allows a health care provider to assess risk
factors for an individual patient in treating the disease or
injury, or performing the health care procedure, as applicable;
(2) provides a health care provider clinical
recommendations for treatment of the disease or injury, or
performance of the health care procedure, as applicable, based on a
patient's risk factors to achieve the optimal health outcome in the
most cost-effective manner;
(3) is based on data:
(A) supported by relevant health care experts and
literature; and
(B) acquired over a period sufficiently recent to
have significant scientific value for the treatment of the disease
or injury or performance of the health care procedure; and
(4) does not disclose any personally identifiable
information of individuals included in the model's data.
Sec. 54.0153. DATA REQUEST. (a) The institute may request
relevant data to develop a model requested under Section 54.0151
from a state agency, health-related institution, or health-related
institution of higher education.
(b) A person electing to provide data in response to a
request submitted under Subsection (a) shall ensure the data does
not contain any personally identifiable information.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.