Bill Text: TX HB3781 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Texas Health Improvement Network.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-19 - Effective immediately [HB3781 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB3781-Comm_Sub.html
 
 
  By: Crownover, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Watson) H.B. No. 3781
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 18, 2015;
  May 18, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
  and Human Services; May 22, 2015, reported adversely, with
  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
  Nays 0; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3781 By:  Schwertner
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of the Texas Health Improvement Network.
         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 118 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 118. TEXAS HEALTH IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 118.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "network" means
  the Texas Health Improvement Network established under this
  chapter. 
  SUBCHAPTER B. NETWORK
         Sec. 118.051.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a)  The Texas
  Health Improvement Network is established to address urgent health
  care challenges and improve the health care system in this state and
  the nation and to develop, based on population health research,
  health care initiatives, policies, and best practices.
         (b)  The purpose of the network is to:
               (1)  reduce the per capita costs of health care;
               (2)  improve the individual experience of health care,
  including the quality of care and patient satisfaction; and
               (3)  improve the health of residents of this state.
         Sec. 118.052.  COMPOSITION OF NETWORK. The network consists
  of experts in:
               (1)  general public health and other medical fields;
               (2)  mental health;
               (3)  nursing; 
               (4)  pharmacy;
               (5)  social work;
               (6)  health economics;
               (7)  health policy and law;
               (8)  epidemiology;
               (9)  biostatistics; 
               (10)  health informatics;
               (11)  health services research; 
               (12)  engineering; and
               (13)  computer science.
         Sec. 118.053.  DUTIES. (a) The network shall establish as
  its primary goals:
               (1)  evaluating and eliminating health disparities in
  this state, including racial, ethnic, geographic, and
  income-related or education-related disparities; and
               (2)  health care cost containment and the economic
  analysis of health policy.
         (b)  The network shall:
               (1)  function as an incubator and evaluator of health
  improvement practices; and
               (2)  support local communities in this state by
  offering leadership training, data analytics, community health
  assessments, and grant writing support to local communities.
         Sec. 118.054.  ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY
  OF TEXAS SYSTEM. (a) The network is administratively attached to
  The University of Texas System.
         (b)  The University of Texas System shall administer and
  coordinate the network and provide administrative support to the
  network as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
         Sec. 118.055.  GIFTS AND GRANTS. The network may accept and
  administer gifts and grants to fund the network from an individual,
  corporation, trust, or foundation or the federal government,
  subject to any limitations or conditions imposed by law.
         Sec. 118.056.  REPORT. The network shall report the results
  of the network's efforts, findings, and activities to the
  legislature, state and federal partners, and other interested
  entities.
  SUBCHAPTER C. ADVISORY COUNCIL
         Sec. 118.101.  ADVISORY COUNCIL. The network shall
  establish an advisory council to advise the network on the health
  care needs of this state.
         Sec. 118.102.  COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COUNCIL. The
  advisory council is composed of:
               (1)  members who are appointed by an executive officer
  of The University of Texas System and nominated by participants in
  the network and who are:
                     (A)  state and national leaders in population
  health;
                     (B)  experts in traditional public health and
  medical fields; and
                     (C)  leaders in the fields of behavioral health,
  business, insurance, philanthropy, education, and health law and
  policy; and
               (2)  representatives from the department and the
  commission, selected by the executive head of the agency.
         Sec. 118.103.  TERMS. Members of the advisory council serve
  staggered three-year terms, with the terms of one-third of the
  members expiring on January 1 of each year.
         Sec. 118.104.  PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive officer of
  The University of Texas System who appoints members to the advisory
  council shall appoint a presiding officer from among the members to
  serve a one-year term.
         Sec. 118.105.  MEETINGS. The advisory council shall meet at
  the call of the presiding officer or at other times that the council
  determines are necessary or appropriate.
         Sec. 118.106.  COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
  the advisory council may not receive compensation for service on
  the advisory council but may be reimbursed for travel expenses
  incurred by the member while conducting the business of the
  advisory council, if funds are available for that purpose, as
  provided by the General Appropriations Act.
         Sec. 118.107.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.  Chapter 2110,
  Government Code, does not apply to the advisory council.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, The University of Texas System shall establish the
  Texas Health Improvement Network as required by Chapter 118, Health
  and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
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