Bill Text: TX HB420 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a task force on maternal mortality in African American women.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-25 - Referred to Public Health [HB420 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB420-Introduced.html
| 87R1067 JG-D | ||
| By: Sherman, Sr. | H.B. No. 420 | |
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| relating to the establishment of a task force on maternal mortality | ||
| in African American women. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subchapter G to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER G. TASK FORCE ON MATERNAL MORTALITY IN | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN | ||
| Sec. 32.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" | ||
| means the task force established by the executive commissioner | ||
| under Section 32.202. | ||
| Sec. 32.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The executive | ||
| commissioner shall establish a task force to: | ||
| (1) study maternal mortality rates for African | ||
| American women and any related disparities; and | ||
| (2) develop and provide recommendations on improving | ||
| maternal health outcomes among African American women. | ||
| Sec. 32.203. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE; PRESIDING OFFICER; | ||
| COMPENSATION. (a) The task force is composed of nine members | ||
| appointed by the executive commissioner 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 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; and | ||
| (6) two individuals with relevant and appropriate | ||
| expertise in maternal health. | ||
| (b) In making the appointments under Subsection (a)(1), the | ||
| executive commissioner 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. | ||
| (c) The task force members shall elect a presiding officer | ||
| from among the membership of the task force. | ||
| (d) The executive commissioner shall fill a vacancy on the | ||
| task force by appointing a person who has the same qualifications as | ||
| required for the original appointee. | ||
| (e) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for | ||
| service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for | ||
| actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force | ||
| duties authorized by the presiding officer, provided funding is | ||
| available for that purpose. | ||
| Sec. 32.204. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at | ||
| least quarterly and at other times at the call of the presiding | ||
| officer. | ||
| (b) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any | ||
| other law, the task force 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. | ||
| Sec. 32.205. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The task force | ||
| may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to carry out | ||
| task force duties under this subchapter. | ||
| Sec. 32.206. BIENNIAL REPORTS; IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN | ||
| RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Not later than September 1 of each | ||
| even-numbered year, the task force shall prepare and submit to each | ||
| member of the legislature and the commission a report that: | ||
| (1) includes the results of the study conducted by the | ||
| task force 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. | ||
| Sec. 32.207. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, | ||
| Government Code, does not apply to the task force. | ||
| Sec. 32.208. TASK FORCE ABOLISHMENT; EXPIRATION OF | ||
| SUBCHAPTER. The task force is abolished and this subchapter | ||
| expires September 1, 2029. | ||
| SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2021, the executive | ||
| commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall | ||
| establish and appoint members to the task force on maternal | ||
| mortality in African American women in accordance with Subchapter | ||
| G, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
