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.