H.B. No. 1370
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and
  Hepatitis.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 81.010, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and
  (k) and adding Subsection (h-1) to read as follows:
         (c)  The council consists of one representative from each of
  the following agencies appointed by the executive director or
  commissioner of each agency:
               (1)  the Department of State Health Services
  [department];
               (2)  the Department of Aging and Disability Services 
  [Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation];
               (3)  the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
  Services [Texas Department of Human Services];
               (4)  the Department of Family and Protective Services 
  [Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse];
               (5)  [the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
               [(6)]  the Texas Youth Commission;
               (6) [(7)]  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
               (7) [(8)]  the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
               (8) [(9)  the Texas Commission for the Blind;
               [(10)     the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
  Hearing;
               [(11)     the Department of Protective and Regulatory
  Services;
               [(12)]  the Texas Education Agency;
               (9) [(13)]  the Texas Medical Board [State Board of
  Medical Examiners];
               (10) [(14)]  the Board of Nurse Examiners;
               (11) [(15)]  the State Board of Dental Examiners;
               (12) [(16)]  the Health and Human Services Commission;
               (13) [(17)  the Texas Department on Aging; and
               [(18)]  the Texas Workforce Commission; and
               (14)  the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
         (e)  The representative from the Health and Human Services
  Commission [department] serves as chairperson of the council.
         (f)  The council may [shall] meet [at least once each
  quarter] on meeting dates set by the council. Each agency that has
  a representative appointed to the council should [shall] ensure
  that a representative of the agency attends each meeting [at least
  three quarterly meetings] of the council [each year].
         (g)  The council shall provide an opportunity for interested
  members of the public, including consumers and providers of health
  services, to provide recommendations and information to the council
  during:
               (1)  any meeting at which the council intends to vote or
  votes on any matter; and
               (2)  at least one of any two consecutive [quarterly]
  meetings of the council.
         (h)  The council shall:
               (1)  coordinate communication among the member
  agencies listed in Subsection (c) concerning each agency's programs
  in providing services related to AIDS, HIV, and hepatitis; [and]
               (2)  develop a plan that facilitates coordination of
  agency programs based on statistical information regarding this
  state for:
                     (A)  prevention of AIDS, HIV infection, and
  hepatitis; and
                     (B)  provision of services to individuals who have
  hepatitis or are infected with HIV;
               (3)  identify all statewide plans related to AIDS, HIV,
  and hepatitis;
               (4)  compile a complete inventory of all federal,
  state, and local money spent in this state on HIV infection, AIDS,
  and hepatitis prevention and health care services, including
  services provided through or covered under Medicaid and Medicare;
               (5)  identify the areas with respect to which state
  agencies interact on HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis issues and the policy
  issues arising from that interaction;
               (6)  assess gaps in prevention and health care services
  for HIV infection, AIDS, and hepatitis in this state, including
  gaps in services that result from provision of services by
  different state agencies, and develop strategies to address these
  gaps through service coordination;
               (7)  identify barriers to prevention and health care
  services for HIV infection, AIDS, and hepatitis faced by
  marginalized populations;
               (8)  identify the unique health care service and other
  service needs of persons who are infected with HIV or who have AIDS
  or hepatitis;
               (9)  evaluate the level of service and quality of
  health care in this state for persons who are infected with HIV or
  who have AIDS or hepatitis as compared to national standards;
               (10)  identify issues that emerge related to HIV, AIDS,
  and hepatitis and the potential impact on delivery of prevention
  and health care services; and
               (11)  provide the information required under
  Subdivisions (1) through (10) to the Department of State Health
  Services.
         (h-1)  Each agency listed in Subsection (c) shall provide
  information under Subsection (h) to the council. The council may
  request information under Subsection (h) from an agency, and the
  agency shall comply with the request.
         (i)  Not later than September 1 of each [even-numbered] year,
  the Department of State Health Services [council] shall file a
  report with the legislature and the governor containing policy
  recommendations based on information reported to the council in
  Subsection (h) relating to:
               (1)  prevention of AIDS, HIV infection, and hepatitis;
  and
               (2)  delivery of health services to individuals who
  have AIDS or hepatitis or are infected with HIV.
         (k)  The Health and Human Services Commission [department]
  shall provide administrative support to the council.
         SECTION 2.  The Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and
  Hepatitis as described by Section 81.010, Health and Safety Code,
  is re-created effective January 1, 2008.
         SECTION 3.  The executive director or commissioner of each
  agency named in Section 81.010(c), Health and Safety Code, as
  amended by this Act, shall appoint one representative to the
  Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and Hepatitis not later
  than January 1, 2008.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1370 was passed by the House on May
  11, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 131, Nays 9, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1370 was passed by the Senate on May
  23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor