Bill Text: TX HB727 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a border public health initiative by the Department of State Health Services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-10 - Left pending in committee [HB727 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB727-Introduced.html
  87R1477 SRA-D
 
  By: Lucio III H.B. No. 727
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a border public health initiative
  by the Department of State Health Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 65 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 65.  BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE
         Sec. 65.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Border county" means a county adjacent to this
  state's international border with Mexico.
               (2)  "Promotora" or "community health worker" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 48.001.
         Sec. 65.0002.  BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE. (a)  The
  department shall develop an initiative to reduce the adverse health
  impacts of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity for adults and
  children in border counties.  The initiative must promote:
               (1)  educational resources designed to prevent those
  conditions;
               (2)  screenings of persons at risk for those
  conditions; and
               (3)  referrals to and treatment by health care
  providers for those conditions.
         (b)  In developing the border public health initiative, the
  department may consult and collaborate with:
               (1)  other health and human services agencies;
               (2)  other appropriate state or federal agencies;
               (3)  health science centers and medical schools; and
               (4)  public and private health care providers and
  hospitals.
         Sec. 65.0003.  OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS. To implement the border
  public health initiative described by Section 65.0002, the
  department shall conduct bilingual, culturally appropriate
  outreach campaigns in consultation and collaboration with
  appropriate individuals and entities that may include:
               (1)  promotoras and community health workers;
               (2)  academic centers located in border counties;
               (3)  nonprofit organizations;
               (4)  public schools;
               (5)  public and private health care providers and
  hospitals;
               (6)  worksite wellness programs;
               (7)  local business and health care providers that
  provide early detection of prediabetes, prehypertension, and
  obesity; and
               (8)  other local entities, as the department determines
  appropriate.
         Sec. 65.0004.  REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2025, the
  department shall prepare and electronically submit to the
  lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
  and the legislature a report describing:
               (1)  health outcomes and health care savings resulting
  from prevention, screenings, and treatment of chronic diseases
  under the border public health initiative; and
               (2)  other relevant findings, as determined by the
  department, resulting from the border public health initiative.
         Sec. 65.0005.  EXPIRATION. This chapter expires December
  31, 2033.
         SECTION 2.  The Department of State Health Services is
  required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
  legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
  the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a
  provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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