81st Legislative Session

We show God’s special concern for the poor and vulnerable by supporting foster care services and programs making healthcare affordable and accessible while providing incentives for morally appropriate health research.

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Bill	Position	Summary and Position	Resources
HB 5		This bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to prohibit smoking in all public and work places in Texas. Private residences or clubs would be exempt from the ban as would hotels and nursing homes with designated smoking rooms, and areas more than 15 feet away from a non-smoking public or work place. The bill would also require employers to notify their staff by December 1, 2009 that smoking is prohibited in the work place. The TCC supports this bill as a public health initiative related to cancer prevention.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to cancer prevention
HB 67		This bill would allow for the creation of a Medicaid buy-in program for families with children with a disability. The buy-in program would extend to families whose family incomes do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level would qualify.  The TCC supports this legislation, which aids Texas families in providing affordable health care to children with disabilities.	Policy Paper: Support creation of a CHIP buy-in program for middle income families to purchase affordable health coverage.
HB 451		This bill expands current law to require that health benefit plans provide coverage for children between the ages of 2 and 18 years who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The TCC supports this bill because it expands the requirement for health insurance for kids with this disorder.
HB 530		This bill would require future state law enforcement officers to complete a training program on the human trafficking. The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person. The TCC supports measures to prevent, raise awareness for, and protect those who are victims of human trafficking.	Read last year's testimony on Human Trafficking
HB 533		This bill would include human trafficking as an offense in the State Penal Code and would impose a civil liability on people who engage in human trafficking, as well as those who intentionally benefit from participating in a venture that traffics another person. The TCC supports this legislation which penalizes those who engage in human trafficking, an injustice that diminishes the dignity of those who are trafficked.	Read last year's testimony on Human Trafficking
HB 584		This bill increases the income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) to allow coverage for children whose net family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. It also allows for 12-month coverage for Children's Medicaid. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid.
HB 613		This bill allows the state to recertify a person's eligibility for the food stamp program without an interview if the person otherwise meets the periodic recertification requirements. Recertification without an interview assists those for whom  a face-to-face interview is difficult, such as people with an inflexible work schedule or those who are caring for children or elderly family. The TCC supports efforts to streamline recertification to ensure that families do not lose benefits for which they qualify.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system
HB 628		This bill would allow for the creation of a database regarding persons who are trafficking victims, as well as for a human trafficking prevention task force. The TCC supports efforts to identify victims of human trafficking in order to provide them with the resources and support they need, and TCC also supports efforts to prevent human trafficking from occurring.	Read last year's testimony on Human Trafficking
HB 639		This bill would create a human trafficking prevention task force to develop policies and procedures to assist in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking crimes. The task force would collect data on the nature and extent of human trafficking in Texas, develop training for law enforcement personnel and victim service providers, implement a media awareness campaign in affected communities, and more. The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person. The TCC supports measures to prevent, raise awareness for, and protect those who are victims of human trafficking. (See SB 89)	Read last year's testimony on Human Trafficking
HB 647		This bill allows for continuous eligibility for medical assistance until a child's 19th birthday.  The TCC supports this bill because it assures continued access to healthcare for needy children. See SB 23, HB 843, SB 349.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 676		This bill increases the income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) to allow coverage for children whose net family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid.
HB 679		This bill requires the testing of mercury levels in certain fish. It also requires that a warning be provided if mercury levels in the fish exceeded acceptable levels. Mercury, like lead and other metals, can cause serious harm to humans  and wildlife.  Adults can build up mercury levels from consuming food such as fish with high levels of mercury.  A pregnant woman can pass mercury to her unborn child. Exposure is especially dangerous to the unborn and young children because of risk of neurological damage, including impairment of memory, language, and motor skills. The TCC supports this bill because it provides a system of testing and notifying people who are most vulnerable to exposure to high levels of mercury--specifically pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children.	Policy Paper: Support protection and improvement of air, land, and water quality, especially as they impact poor communities.
HB 743		This bill increases the income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) to allow coverage for children whose net family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid.
HB 745		This bill would require that the Health and Human Services commission develop a strategic plan to intensify community outreach and education relating to the availability of benefits under the child health plan and Medicaid programs and also to reduce the paperwork and other administrative burdens associated with determining eligibility for and enrolling eligible individuals in those programs. The TCC supports this bill as a means to help raise awareness and access to health care services.
HB 787		This bill increases the income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) to allow coverage for children whose net family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid.
HB 843		This bill allows for continuous eligibility for medical assistance until a child's 19th birthday.  The TCC supports this bill because it assures continued access to healthcare for needy children. See SB 23, HB 647, SB 349.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 862		This bill increases the income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) to allow coverage for children whose net family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid.
HB 891		This bill would allow teen mothers to consent for medical exams for contraception without parental consent.The TCC recognizes parents as the primary educators of their children, especial with regard to instruction on human sexuality, and therefore opposes legislation that would reduce or remove the role of the parents in the healthcare decisions of their children.  (See SB 592)
HB 893		This bill would allow adolescents to receive contraception under the Children's Health Insurance Program. The TCC opposes this bill, recognizing that contraception is not a health care service and that this bill may also diminish the role of the parent as the primary provider of education on sexual health.
HB 1029		This bill allows the development, rehabilitation, or expansion of affordable housing to be considered a public improvement project. The TCC supports this bill because it will create greater incentives for the community to develop affordable housing solutions.
HB 1080		This bill would allow families to reduce child support expenses from the net family income when applying for Medicaid. The TCC supports this bill because it helps provide an accurate family income for Medicaid determination.
HB 1200		This bill increases income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan from 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports this bill, which will increase the number of eligible children for the CHIP and reduce the occurrence of parents who choose to take pay cuts in order to keep their children insured under CHIP.
HB 1329		This bill allows for the creation of a sliding-scale CHIP buy-in program for families whose incomes are between 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.
HB 1372		This bill adds "trafficking of persons" to the definition of victims in the code of criminal procedure.  The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person. The TCC supports measures to prevent, raise awareness for, and protect those who are victims of human trafficking.	Read last year's testimony on Human Trafficking
HB 1398		This bill would allow for the creation of a pilot project to establish aging and disability resources centers that could provide access to several services. TCC supports the creation a single access point for older individuals to access services.
HB 1426		This bill would create a pilot program to identify women at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy and provide alcohol education to women between the ages of 18 and 44 years. TCC supports this bill as it notifies women of the health repercussions of alcohol use on their unborn child.
HB 1428		This bill would require those who intend to construct a chemical dependency treatment facility to provide notification at the proposed location of the facility and to residents nearby the proposed location. The bill also requires that the municipality must give consent for the construction of the facility as well. The TCC opposes this bill because it does not exempt DFPS licensed facilities and it may lead to reduce access to treatment in  neighborhoods and church facilities.
HB 1541		This bill calls for an evaluation of current community outreach for benefits programs, which include CHIP and the food stamp program. The purpose of the evaluation would be to help improve the effectiveness of community outreach efforts. Specific goals would include increasing the capacity of existing outreach efforts, public education, and fostering the exchange of best practices information. The TCC supports this effort to improve outreach for benefits programs.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid.
HB 1622		This bill would allow for the creation of a children's access to nutritious food program to award grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of allowing food banks to provide children at risk of hunger or obesity with access to nutritious food outside the school day. The TCC supports this bill in an effort to combat hunger and obesity by providing nutritious food to children.(See SB 944)	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to obesity
HB 1625		This bill standardizes the exemption of one vehicle from assets limits across food stamps, TANF, and Medicaid programs. The TCC supports this bill because it ensures that applicants with  equity in vehicles are not penalized when applying for public benefits.
HB 1626		This bill increase eligibility for the food stamp program. The TCC supports improved eligibility to public benefits programs as means of combating poverty and aiding the most poor and vulnerable in our society.
HB 1630		This bill states that if children covered by the children's health plan are placed in a facility or other setting that would result in a loss of his or her coverage, the children's eligibility is suspended during the time that they are in the facility or other setting. Furthermore, eligibility is automatically reinstated when the child is released. The TCC supports this bill as a way to means of ensuring that every eligible child for CHIP receives health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 1699		This bill allows for the creation of a sliding-scale CHIP buy-in program for families whose incomes are between 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.
HB 1700		This bill prohibits any funding awarded to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas from being used for embryonic of fetal stem cell research. The TCC supports this bill which promotes moral and ethical adult stem cell research, including research with umbilical cord blood cells, while prohibiting that state funds be used for immoral and unethical embryonic stem cell research, which results in the direct taking of human life.	Policy Paper: Support funding for adult stem cell research
HB 1742		This bill would require health  insurance providers to cover test used for the detection of prostate cancer for males 40 years or older. The TCC supports this bill as a public health initiative to aid in early cancer detection.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to cancer prevention
HB 1769		This bill increases the income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) to allow coverage for children whose net family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level by instituting a buy-in for the plan. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support creation of a CHIP buy-in program for middle income families to purchase affordable health coverage.
HB 1776		This bill would include physician's offices in the list of Medicaid health care providers that are entitled to reimbursement for health care provided outside of regular business hours. The TCC supports adequate reimbursement for Medicaid providers, acknowledging this as an incentive for physicians to provide for the health care needs of Texans in this program.	Policy Paper: Support adequate reimbursement for CHIP & Medicaid providers.
HB 1903		This bill would slightly alter the definition of "family income" for the purposes of qualifying for Medicaid, by allowing a family to offset expenses such as child care and work-related expenses. The TCC supports this new definition because it allows for a more accurate determination of a family's net income which recognizes the significant cost of child care and work-related expenses that can impact a family's ability to provide health insurance for children.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 1938		This bill would exclude college savings plans from being considered as income in determining whether a child meets the family income and resources requirements for eligibility for the child health plan. The TCC supports this bill because it helps ensure that families do not have to decline health insurance if they plan to save money for their children's college educations. It also helps provide an accurate family income for CHIP determination.
HB 1970		This bill requires that food served at child-care facilities and family homes meet the federal nutritional guidelines of the child and adult care food program. It also allows for the development and implementation of minimum training standards that address the role of child-care providers in preventing obesity and overweight conditions among preschool-aged children. The TCC supports initiatives to help combat obesity.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to obesity
HB 2199		This bill allows for continuous eligibility for medical assistance until a child's 19th birthday.  The TCC supports this bill because it assures continued access to healthcare for needy children.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 2220		This bill would repeal the current ban on requiring the HPV vaccine for school age girls. The TCC opposes this bill because it diminishes the role of  parents in making health care decisions for their children.	Texas Bishops' Statement on the HPV Vaccine Mandate
HB 2204		This bill allows for continuous eligibility for medical assistance until a child's 19th birthday.  The TCC supports this bill because it assures continued access to healthcare for needy children.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 2206		This bill increases income eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan from 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports this bill, which will increase the number of eligible children for the CHIP and reduce the occurrence of parents who choose to take pay cuts in order to keep their children insured under CHIP.
HB 2220		This bill would repeals the ban on current statute that prohibits the requirement that school age girls receive the HPV vaccine. TCC opposes this bill, recognizing the primary role of parents in making health care regarding their child's sexual health.
HB 2376		This bill strengthens the eligibility and outreach activities for CHIP. The TCC supports improvements in the CHIP eligibility system.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 2388		This bill increases income eligibility for the child health plan from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level. Those with incomes between 200% and 300% would be required to pay a share of the cost of the plan, not higher than 5% of the enrollee's net family income. It also creates a buy-in option for children whose net family incomes exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow even more children to gain health care coverage under the CHIP program.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 2621		This bill would identify high risk areas for lead poisoning and create a lead poisoning risk assessment for children younger than 7 years of age. Health care providers, during an annual wellness exam, would assess lead exposure and provide this information to the Department of State Health Services. The TCC supports this bill, which will allow for the collection of data on lead exposure, recognizing that the effects of lead exposure are detrimental, especially to young children and the unborn.
HB 2632		This bill would establish demonstration projects throughout the state to identify and assist socially isolated elderly individuals. A demonstration project would include a variety of volunteer opportunities to assist socially isolated elderly individuals, including transportation, minor home repair, household chores, meals,  shopping assistance, and information and referrals to services. The Texas Catholic Conference supports efforts to provide services and outreach to seniors in Texas.
HB 2780		Current law already allows citizens of a municipality to sign up with a municipal aggregator if they believe the aggregator offers better prices and services (i.e., exercise their choice to “opt-in”). This bill would allow municipalities to create an out-out program for these services. The TCC opposes this bill because we are also concerned that cities, lawyers, or third parties who make these choices for consumers may not have the interests of the most poor and vulnerable in mind.
HB 2962		This bill strengthens the eligibility for CHIP by restoring CHIP work deductions, increasing the percentage of income to 300% of the federal poverty level, and eliminating the asset test and the 6-month income checks.. The TCC supports improvements in the CHIP eligibility system.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 3142		This bill requires that the reimbursement rate for nursing home services to Medicaid recipients must at least be the national average reimbursement rate paid for those services. The TCC supports this bill because we support adequate reimbursement for health care providers to ensure that current providers continue to provide services for those in the Medicaid program, and also to encourage new providers to join the program.	TCC Policy Paper: Support adequate reimbursement for CHIP & Medicaid providers
HB 3163		This bill would increase funding for the Texas Housing Trust Fund. The Housing Trust Fund makes up the state's only funding for affordable homes, and can be used for a myriad of crucial programs, including single-family and multi-family home construction, shelter services, supportive housing, and housing for populations with unique needs such as victims of domestic violence, veterans and people with disabilities. The TCC supports programs that provide affordable housing options for Texans.
HB 3325		This bill because it requires health care providers to comply with a patient's directions without a conscience clause. We cannot support legislation that would not allow a health care provider to consciously exempt his or her self from providing treatment.
HB 3657		This bill requires out-of-hospital health care providers to comply with a patient's "Do Not Resuscitate" order. The TCC opposes this bill which may force providers to refuse care that the provider would otherwise consider appropriate.
HB 3860		This bill will increase the state's outreach efforts for CHIP enrollment. The TCC supports this bill because it will increase the number of children with healthcare coverage.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
HB 4009		This bill would create an assistance program for domestic victims of trafficking. The program would develop and implement a program designed to assist domestic victims, including victims who are children, in accessing necessary services. The TCC supports this bill, which provides aid to victims of human trafficking, a practice that directly denies the dignity of the lives of those who are trafficked.
HB 4278		This bill allows for the creation of a sliding-scale CHIP buy-in program for families whose incomes are between 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.
HB 4662		This bill allows for the creation of a sliding-scale CHIP buy-in program for families whose incomes are between 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.
SB 23		This bill allows for continuous eligibility for medical assistance until a child's 19th birthday.  The TCC supports this bill because it assures continued access to healthcare for needy children. See HB 647, HB 843, SB 349.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
SB 73		This bill would establish an adult stem cell research program that supports adult stem cell research by providing grants and funding for research projects, the development of facilities for adult stem cell research projects, and the commercialization of products or technology involving adult stem cell research and treatments. The program would also establish regulatory standards and oversight bodies for adult stem cell research conducted by those receiving funding. The TCC supports efforts to promote adult stem cell research, which poses no moral concerns and has saved thousands of lives.	Policy Paper: Promote funding for adult stem cell research
SB 89		This bill would create a human trafficking prevention task force to develop policies and procedures to assist in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking crimes. The task force would collect data on the nature and extent of human trafficking in Texas, develop training for law enforcement personnel and victim service providers, implement a media awareness campaign in affected communities, and more. The crime of human trafficking is an assault on the dignity of the human person. The TCC supports measures to prevent, raise awareness for, and protect those who are victims of human trafficking. (See HB 639)	Read last year's testimony on Human Trafficking
SB 278		This bill creates additional funding for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.  The TCC supports access to mental health services, including substance abuse treatment.  Substance abuse prevention and treatment can have a direct positive impact on the high school drop out rate.
SB 282		This bill provides grants for childhood nutrition programs.  The TCC supports this bill because nutrition education reduces childhood obesity and provides education for adults seeking healthy lifestyles.
SB 349		This bill allows for continuous eligibility for medical assistance until a child's 19th birthday.  The TCC supports this bill because it assures continued access to healthcare for needy children. See SB 23, HB 647, HB 843.	Policy Paper: Support improvements of the eligibility system, including outreach and application assistance, to enroll every eligible child in CHIP & Medicaid with 12 months continuous eligibility.
SB 395		This bill would allow for the creation of an early childhood health and nutrition interagency council to research the health of children under the age of five in Texas compared with other states, the significance of nutrition and physical activity in the development of these children in early childhood care settings in order to identify barriers to improving early childhood health through nutrition and physical standards and best practices for improving nutrition and physical activity. The TCC supports this bill in an effort to encourage healthy lifestyles.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles
SB 544		This bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to prohibit smoking in all public and work places in Texas. Private residences or clubs would be exempt from the ban as would hotels and nursing homes with designated smoking rooms, and areas more than 15 feet away from a non-smoking public or work place. The bill would also require employers to notify their staff by December 1, 2009 that smoking is prohibited in the work place. The TCC supports this bill as a public health initiative related to cancer prevention.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to cancer prevention
SB 577		This bill allows for the creation of a sliding-scale CHIP buy-in program for families whose incomes are below 300% of the federal poverty level. The TCC supports the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.
SB 592		This bill would allow teen mothers to consent for medical exams for contraception without parental consent.The TCC recognizes parents as the primary educators of their children, especial with regard to instruction on human sexuality, and therefore opposes legislation that would reduce or remove the role of the parents in the healthcare decisions of their children.  (See HB 991)
SB 593		This bill would allow adolescents to receive contraception under the Children's Health Insurance Program. The TCC opposes this bill, recognizing that contraception is not a health care service and that this bill may also diminish the role of the parent as the primary provider of education on sexual health.
SB 841		This bill allows for the creation of a sliding-scale CHIP buy-in program for families whose incomes are between 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. The TCC supports the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.	Policy Paper: Support the creation of a CHIP buy-in program to increase the number of families that can purchase affordable health coverage.
SB 867		This bill requires that schools districts in which 50% or more of students are eligible to participate in the national free or reduced price lunch program shall provide or arrange for the provision of a summer nutrition program. The TCC supports this bill in an effort to combat obesity by providing nutritious food for children.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to obesity
SB 870		This bill allows for the creation of a public health awareness plan in order to explore past successful health awareness efforts. The TCC supports this bill in an effort to encourage healthy lifestyles.	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles
SB 934		This bill would increase funding for the Texas Housing Trust Fund. The Housing Trust Fund makes up the state's only funding for affordable homes, and can be used for a myriad of crucial programs, including single-family and multi-family home construction, shelter services, supportive housing, and housing for populations with unique needs such as victims of domestic violence, veterans and people with disabilities. The TCC supports programs that provide affordable housing options for Texans.
SB 943		This bill would allow for the creation of a pilot project to establish aging and disability resources centers that could provide access to several services. TCC supports the creation a single access point for older individuals to access services.
SB 944		This bill would allow for the creation of a children's access to nutritious food program to award grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of allowing food banks to provide children at risk of hunger or obesity with access to nutritious food outside the school day. The TCC supports this bill in an effort to combat hunger and obesity by providing nutritious food to children. (See HB 1622)	Policy Paper: Support public health initiatives related to obesity
SB 1189		This bill would require that the Health and Human Services commission develop a strategic plan to intensify community outreach and education relating to the availability of benefits under the child health plan and Medicaid programs and also to reduce the paperwork and other administrative burdens associated with determining eligibility for and enrolling eligible individuals in those programs. The TCC supports this bill as a means to help raise awareness and access to health care services.
SB 1214		This bill would require that the state issue or update consumption advisories for fish that contain excessive levels of methyl mercury. The advisory must list the risks related to particular fish or other animal specifies as well as the risk to sensitive or at-risk populations, such as children and pregnant women. Mercury, like lead and other metals, can cause serious harm to humans  and wildlife.  A pregnant woman can pass mercury to her unborn child. Exposure is especially dangerous to the unborn and young children because of risk of neurological damage, including impairment of memory, language, and motor skills. The TCC supports this bill because it provides a system of testing and notifying people who are most vulnerable to exposure to high levels of mercury--specifically pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children.	Policy Paper: Support protection and improvement of air, land, and water quality, especially as they impact poor communities.
SB 1217		This bill allows for the creation of an autism program that would provide services to children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Recognizing the correlation between exposure to mercury and autism, the TCC supports this bill which would help children who may have developed autism due to high mercury levels from fish and seafood.
SB 1395		This bill would require that the legislature and Texas Legislative Council use person-first, respectful language when referring to people with disabilities. TCC supports this bill as it recognizes the dignity of the human person as a priority when laws are written impacting people with disabilities.
SB 1398		This bill prohibits municipalities from requiring a license to rent an apartment. The TCC supports this bill because it facilitates the process of obtaining an apartment when re-locating for work or other reasons.
SB 1481		Current law already allows citizens of a municipality to sign up with a municipal aggregator if they believe the aggregator offers better prices and services (i.e., exercise their choice to “opt-in”). This bill would allow municipalities to create an out-out program for these services. The TCC opposes this bill because we are also concerned that cities, lawyers, or third parties who make these choices for consumers may not have the interests of the most poor and vulnerable in mind.
SB 1663		This bill states that if employees of nursing institutions knowingly disregard or violate a resident's advance directive, their actions constitute abuse and neglect of the resident. The TCC opposes this bill because it could force medical personnel to remove nutrition and hydration at the request of the patient when it is not medically indicated.
SB 2573		This bill requires that any state agency that conducts, funds, or supports biomedical research shall create an annual report on any research that involves stem cells or human cloning. The report must include information on the type of research conducted, the type of stem cells used, the process through which the stem cells and lines were derived (if applicable), the amount and source of state money used, the use of state facilities used, and the progress and results of the research. The TCC supports this bill because it allows for reporting of state funding and uses of stem cells, which can help demonstrate the progress of adult stem cell research while also clearly noting agencies that may be using embryonic stem cells or conducting cloning research.	Policy Paper: Promote funding for adult stem cell research

Please Note: This report will continue to be updated throughout the Legislative Session.

Click here to view the Health & Human Services Priorities on our Legislative Agenda.