| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of the Legislative Committee on |
|
|
Aging. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER G. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING |
|
|
Sec. 161.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|
|
(1) "Committee" means the Legislative Committee on |
|
|
Aging. |
|
|
(2) "Health and human services agency" has the meaning |
|
|
assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code. |
|
|
Sec. 161.252. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING ESTABLISHED. |
|
|
The Legislative Committee on Aging is established to: |
|
|
(1) study issues relating to the aging population of |
|
|
Texas, including issues related to the health care, transportation, |
|
|
housing, education, and employment needs of that population; and |
|
|
(2) make recommendations to address those issues and |
|
|
coordinate available services. |
|
|
Sec. 161.253. COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE; PRESIDING OFFICER. |
|
|
(a) The committee is composed of: |
|
|
(1) two members of the senate and one public member |
|
|
appointed by the lieutenant governor; and |
|
|
(2) two members of the house of representatives and |
|
|
one public member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
|
|
representatives. |
|
|
(b) A member of the committee serves at the pleasure of the |
|
|
appointing official. |
|
|
(c) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
|
|
representatives shall appoint the presiding officer of the |
|
|
committee on an alternating basis. The presiding officer shall |
|
|
serve a two-year term expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered |
|
|
year. |
|
|
Sec. 161.254. COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The |
|
|
committee shall: |
|
|
(1) meet at the call of the presiding officer; |
|
|
(2) receive information about rules proposed or |
|
|
adopted by the executive commissioner relating to the aging |
|
|
population; |
|
|
(3) review specific recommendations for legislation |
|
|
proposed by the executive commissioner, the department, another |
|
|
health and human services agency, or the attorney general relating |
|
|
to the aging population; |
|
|
(4) review the effectiveness of the regulatory systems |
|
|
of this state relating to the aging population; |
|
|
(5) analyze the availability of, and unmet needs for, |
|
|
state and local services for the aging population; and |
|
|
(6) request reports and other information as necessary |
|
|
from the executive commissioner, the department, another health and |
|
|
human services agency, and the attorney general relating to the |
|
|
aging population. |
|
|
(b) The committee may issue process, in accordance with |
|
|
Section 301.024, Government Code, to compel attendance of witnesses |
|
|
and the production of books, records, documents, and instruments |
|
|
required by the committee. |
|
|
(c) The committee shall use the existing staff resources of |
|
|
the senate and the house of representatives to assist the committee |
|
|
in performing its duties under this section. The department, on |
|
|
request, shall provide additional resources and assistance to the |
|
|
committee. |
|
|
Sec. 161.255. REPORT. (a) The committee shall report to |
|
|
the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives |
|
|
having jurisdiction of issues related to the needs of the aging |
|
|
population not later than November 15 of each even-numbered year. |
|
|
(b) The report must include: |
|
|
(1) a summary of the effectiveness of the regulatory |
|
|
systems of this state related to the aging population; |
|
|
(2) an analysis of the types of state and local |
|
|
services available to the aging population, including health care, |
|
|
transportation, housing, and education services; |
|
|
(3) an analysis of the unique needs of the aging |
|
|
population participating or desiring to participate in the |
|
|
workforce and necessary actions to meet those needs; and |
|
|
(4) recommendations for legislation. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the |
|
|
house of representatives shall appoint members of the Legislative |
|
|
Committee on Aging, as established by this Act, not later than the |
|
|
30th day after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |