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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Health Improvement Network. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 118 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 118. TEXAS HEALTH IMPROVEMENT NETWORK |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 118.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "network" means |
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the Texas Health Improvement Network established under this |
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chapter. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. NETWORK |
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Sec. 118.051. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a) The Texas |
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Health Improvement Network is established to address urgent health |
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care challenges and improve the health care system in this state and |
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the nation and to develop, based on population health research, |
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health care initiatives, policies, and best practices. |
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(b) The purpose of the network is to: |
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(1) reduce the per capita costs of health care; |
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(2) improve the individual experience of health care, |
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including the quality of care and patient satisfaction; and |
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(3) improve the health of residents of this state. |
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Sec. 118.052. COMPOSITION OF NETWORK. The network consists |
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of experts in: |
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(1) general public health and other medical fields; |
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(2) mental health; |
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(3) nursing; |
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(4) pharmacy; |
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(5) social work; |
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(6) health economics; |
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(7) health policy and law; |
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(8) epidemiology; |
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(9) biostatistics; |
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(10) health informatics; |
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(11) health services research; |
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(12) engineering; and |
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(13) computer science. |
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Sec. 118.053. DUTIES. (a) The network shall establish as |
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its primary goals: |
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(1) evaluating and eliminating health disparities in |
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this state, including racial, ethnic, geographic, and |
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income-related or education-related disparities; and |
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(2) health care cost containment and the economic |
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analysis of health policy. |
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(b) The network shall: |
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(1) function as an incubator and evaluator of health |
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improvement practices; and |
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(2) support local communities in this state by |
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offering leadership training, data analytics, community health |
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assessments, and grant writing support to local communities. |
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Sec. 118.054. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY |
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OF TEXAS SYSTEM. (a) The network is administratively attached to |
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The University of Texas System. |
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(b) The University of Texas System shall administer and |
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coordinate the network and provide administrative support to the |
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network as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. |
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Sec. 118.055. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The network may accept and |
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administer gifts and grants to fund the network from an individual, |
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corporation, trust, or foundation or the federal government, |
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subject to any limitations or conditions imposed by law. |
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Sec. 118.056. REPORT. The network shall report the results |
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of the network's efforts, findings, and activities to the |
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legislature, state and federal partners, and other interested |
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entities. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. ADVISORY COUNCIL |
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Sec. 118.101. ADVISORY COUNCIL. The network shall |
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establish an advisory council to advise the network on the health |
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care needs of this state. |
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Sec. 118.102. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COUNCIL. The |
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advisory council is composed of: |
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(1) members who are appointed by an executive officer |
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of The University of Texas System and nominated by participants in |
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the network and who are: |
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(A) state and national leaders in population |
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health; |
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(B) experts in traditional public health and |
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medical fields; and |
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(C) leaders in the fields of behavioral health, |
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business, insurance, philanthropy, education, and health law and |
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policy; and |
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(2) representatives from the department and the |
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commission, selected by the executive head of the agency. |
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Sec. 118.103. TERMS. Members of the advisory council serve |
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staggered three-year terms, with the terms of one-third of the |
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members expiring on January 1 of each year. |
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Sec. 118.104. PRESIDING OFFICER. The executive officer of |
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The University of Texas System who appoints members to the advisory |
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council shall appoint a presiding officer from among the members to |
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serve a one-year term. |
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Sec. 118.105. MEETINGS. The advisory council shall meet at |
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the call of the presiding officer or at other times that the council |
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determines are necessary or appropriate. |
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Sec. 118.106. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of |
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the advisory council may not receive compensation for service on |
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the advisory council but may be reimbursed for travel expenses |
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incurred by the member while conducting the business of the |
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advisory council, if funds are available for that purpose, as |
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provided by the General Appropriations Act. |
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Sec. 118.107. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the advisory council. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, The University of Texas System shall establish the |
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Texas Health Improvement Network as required by Chapter 118, Health |
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and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3781 was passed by the House on May |
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15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 108, Nays 11, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3781 on May 28, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 8, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3781 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays |
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2. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |