Bill Text: TX SB1306 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and state agency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-18 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB1306 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1306-Introduced.html

---

87R8261 MCF-D
By: Blanco S.B. No. 1306

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and
state agency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the
Department of State Health Services.
(2) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
disease.
(3) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(4) "Task force" means the COVID-19 Health Equity Task
Force.
SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The commissioner
shall establish a task force to:
(1) identify and address health and social inequities
resulting in disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 exposure,
illness, and death among communities of color and other underserved
populations; and
(2) make recommendations to prevent and remedy
disparate health care provision and COVID-19 outcomes within
communities of color and other underserved populations.
SECTION 3. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task force
is composed of 18 members as follows:
(1) one member who represents the Department of
Agriculture;
(2) one member who represents the Texas Education
Agency;
(3) one member who represents the Health and Human
Services Commission;
(4) one member who represents the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs;
(5) one member who represents the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice;
(6) one member who represents the Texas Workforce
Commission;
(7) one member who represents the Texas Division of
Emergency Management;
(8) one member who represents the Department of State
Health Services;
(9) one member who represents children's health;
(10) one member who represents university health
science centers;
(11) one member who represents associations that work
with people with disabilities;
(12) one member who represents tribal communities;
(13) one member who represents mental health
associations;
(14) one member who represents an association for
hospitals and health systems;
(15) one member who represents an organization that
works with the homeless community;
(16) one member who represents domestic workers;
(17) one member who represents nurses; and
(18) one member who represents physicians.
(b) The chief administrative officer of each state agency or
division listed in Subsections (a)(1)-(8) of this section shall
appoint an employee of the agency or division to represent the
agency or division on the task force. The commissioner shall
appoint the remaining members of the task force.
(c) The commissioner shall designate a member as the
presiding officer of the task force.
(d) The task force shall meet regularly as determined by the
presiding officer to set the agenda and direct the work of the task
force.
(e) Each state agency or division with a member on the task
force shall provide administrative support to the task force as
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. STUDY. (a) The task force shall conduct a study
to identify health inequities caused or exacerbated by COVID-19 and
develop strategies to mitigate the health inequities caused or
exacerbated by COVID-19.
(b) The study must identify:
(1) methods for state agency, local government, and
tribal government officials to best allocate COVID-19 resources to
communities with disproportionately high rates of COVID-19
infection, hospitalization, and mortality;
(2) methods to promote equity in the disbursement of
COVID-19 relief funding by state agencies;
(3) measures for state agencies to achieve effective
and culturally sensitive communication, messaging, and outreach to
communities of color and other underserved populations;
(4) any continuing health inequities faced by COVID-19
survivors that may merit a public health response; and
(5) factors that contribute to disparities in COVID-19
outcomes and actions to combat the disparities in future public
health emergencies.
(c) In conducting the study required under this section, the
task force shall cooperate with state agencies to develop:
(1) short-term recommendations regarding:
(A) data collection of COVID-19 outcomes in
communities of color and other underserved populations; and
(B) identification of data sources or indices
that would enable the development of short-term goals for an
appropriate COVID-19 response in communities of color and other
underserved populations; and
(2) long-term recommendations to address data
collection inadequacies and challenges, including challenges
related to data intersectionality that would otherwise ensure a
more effective response to similar future situations.
(d) In conducting the study required under this section, the
task force may seek advice from:
(1) health care providers and other health
professionals;
(2) policy experts;
(3) state, local, and tribal health officials;
(4) faith-based leaders;
(5) businesses;
(6) community organizations;
(7) individuals who have experienced:
(A) homelessness;
(B) incarceration;
(C) discrimination; and
(D) other relevant issues; and
(8) other interested persons.
SECTION 5. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2022, the
task force shall prepare and submit a report to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the members of the legislature that includes the results of the
study conducted under Section 4 of this Act and any associated
recommendations.
SECTION 6. TASK FORCE COLLABORATION WITH STATE AGENCIES IN
COVID-19 RESPONSE. (a) The commissioner of agriculture, the
commissioners of the Texas Workforce Commission, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the
presiding officer of the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs, the commissioner of education, the presiding officer and
commissioners of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and
the chief administrative officers of all other agencies with
authority or responsibility related to COVID-19 response and
recovery shall:
(1) consult with the task force to strengthen equity
data collection, reporting, and use related to COVID-19;
(2) assess pandemic response plans and policies to
determine whether personal protective equipment, tests, vaccines,
therapeutics, and other resources have been or will be allocated
equitably, including consideration of:
(A) the disproportionately high rates of
COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality in certain
communities; and
(B) any barriers that have restricted access to
preventive measures, treatment, and other health services for
high-risk populations;
(3) based on the assessments described by Subsection
(a)(2) of this section, modify pandemic response plans and policies
to advance equity, with consideration of:
(A) the effect of proposed policy changes on the
distribution of resources to, and access to health care by,
communities of color and other underserved populations;
(B) the effect of proposed policy changes on
agencies' ability to collect, analyze, and report data necessary to
monitor and evaluate the impact of pandemic response plans and
policies on communities of color and other underserved populations;
and
(C) policy priorities expressed by communities
that have suffered disproportionate rates of illness and death as a
result of the pandemic;
(4) strengthen enforcement of antidiscrimination
requirements pertaining to the availability of, and access to,
COVID-19 care and treatment; and
(5) partner with other state agencies, local
governments, and tribal governments to explore mechanisms to
provide greater assistance to individuals and families
experiencing disproportionate economic or health effects from
COVID-19, including expanding access to food, housing, child care,
or income support.
(b) The commissioner shall:
(1) provide recommendations to state agencies, local
governments, and tribal governments on facilitating the placement
of contact tracers and other workers in communities hardest hit by
the COVID-19 pandemic, recruit the tracers and workers from those
communities, and connect the tracers and workers to existing health
workforce training programs and other career advancement programs;
and
(2) conduct an outreach campaign to promote vaccine
trust and approval among communities of color and other underserved
populations with higher levels of vaccine mistrust due to
discriminatory medical treatment and research, and engage with
leaders within those communities.
SECTION 7. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. (a) Chapter 2110,
Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
(b) This Act may not be construed to impair or otherwise
affect the authority granted by law to a state agency or the chief
administrative officer of a state agency.
(c) This Act does not create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against this state or any agency, officer, employee, or agent
of this state, or any other person.
SECTION 8. ABOLISHMENT AND EXPIRATION. This task force is
abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2021.