| (a) The committee. The Healthcare Safety Advisory Committee
(committee) is appointed under and governed by this section.
(b) Applicable law. The committee is subject to Texas
Government Code, Chapter 2110.
(c) Purpose. The purpose of the committee is to provide
a forum to obtain stakeholder input on program initiatives and proposals
for consideration by the Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Branch
(EAIDB) of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
(d) Tasks.
(1) The committee provides stakeholder feedback related
to program initiatives.
(2) The committee participates in workgroups to develop
guidance related to program activities as requested by EAIDB.
(e) Reports to the department.
(1) The committee files an annual written report with
the Executive Commissioner.
(A) The report includes:
(i) the meeting dates of the committee;
(ii) the member attendance records;
(iii) a brief description of actions taken by the committee;
(iv) committee accomplishments;
(v) the status of any committee recommended rules for
consideration by the department and the commission;
(vi) anticipated committee activities of the committee;
and
(vii) any amendments to this section requested by the
committee.
(viii) identifies the costs related to the committee,
including the cost of agency staff time spent in support of the committee's
activities and the source of funds used to support the committee's
activities.
(B) The report covers the meetings and activities in
the immediate preceding calendar year and is filed with the HHSC Executive
Commissioner each February of the following calendar year.
(2) The committee files an annual written report with
the Texas Legislature regarding any policy recommendations made to
the HHSC Executive Commissioner.
(f) Date of abolition. The committee is abolished September
1, 2020.
(g) Composition.
(1) The committee is composed of 13 (voting and non-voting)
members appointed by the Executive Commissioner.
(2) The composition of the committee includes:
(A) two infection prevention and control professionals
who:
(i) are certified by the Certification Board of Infection
Control and Epidemiology; and
(ii) are practicing in a healthcare facility in this
state;
(B) two healthcare safety professionals who:
(i) are practicing in a healthcare facility in this
state; and
(ii) are employed as professionals in quality assessment
and performance improvement;
(C) three board-certified physicians who:
(i) are licensed to practice medicine in this state
under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 155;
(ii) have active medical staff privileges at a healthcare
facility in this state; and
(iii) have demonstrated expertise in the area(s) of
quality assessment and performance improvement, healthcare safety,
health care epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance activities, or
infection control in health care facilities;
(D) two healthcare facility administrators;
(E) one licensed pharmacist in this state who:
(i) has experience in systems to reduce medication
errors and in antibiotic stewardship activities; and
(ii) is practicing in a healthcare facility in this
state;
(F) one nonvoting member who is a department employee
representing the licensing of hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers;
and
(G) two members who represent the public as consumers.
(3) Geographic representation will be considered among
equally qualified appointees for each committee position.
(h) Terms of office. Except as may be necessary to
stagger terms, the term of office of each member is two years.
(1) Members are appointed so that the terms of members
expire on December 31st of each even-numbered year.
(2) If a vacancy occurs, a person is appointed to serve
the unexpired portion of that term.
(i) Officers. The committee selects a presiding officer
and an assistant presiding officer from its members.
(1) The presiding officer and assistant presiding officer
serve until December 31st of each even-numbered year. Both the presiding
officer and the assistant presiding officer may retain office until
his or her replacement is appointed.
(2) The presiding officer:
(A) presides at all committee meetings in which he
or she is in attendance;
(B) calls meetings in accordance with this section;
(C) appoints subcommittees of the committee as necessary;
(D) causes proper reports to be made to the Executive
Commissioner; and
(E) may serve as an ex-officio member of any subcommittee
of the committee.
(3) The assistant presiding officer performs the duties
of the presiding officer in case of the absence or disability of the
presiding officer. If the office of presiding officer becomes vacant,
the assistant presiding officer serves as presiding officer until
the committee selects a new presiding officer.
(4) A member shall serve no more than two consecutive
terms as presiding officer or assistant presiding officer.
(5) The committee may reference its officers by other
terms, such as chairperson and vice-chairperson.
(j) Meetings. The committee meets as necessary as determined
by the department, up to four times per year, to conduct business.
(1) The committee meets at the call of the presiding
officer.
(2) Meeting arrangements are made by department staff.
(3) The committee is not a "governmental body" as defined
in the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. Meetings
may be conducted in person, through teleconference call, or by means
of other technology.
(4) The committee provides stakeholder feedback only.
The committee has no authority to conduct "official business" on the
part of the department.
(5) The agenda for each committee meeting includes
an opportunity for new business or for any member to address the committee
on matters relating to committee business.
(6) The agenda for each committee meeting also includes
an item entitled public comment under which any person is allowed
to address the committee on matters relating to business. The presiding
officer may establish procedures for public comment, including a time
limit on each comment.
(k) Attendance. Members attend committee meetings as
scheduled.
(1) A member notifies the presiding officer or appropriate
department staff if he or she is unable to attend a scheduled meeting.
(2) It is grounds for removal from the committee if
a member:
(A) cannot discharge the member's duties for a substantial
part of the term for which the member is appointed because of illness
or disability;
(B) is absent from more than half of the committee
meetings during a calendar year; or
(C) is absent from at least three consecutive committee
meetings.
(3) The validity of an action of the committee is not
affected by the fact that it is taken when grounds for removal of
a member exists per paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(l) Staff. Staff support for the committee is provided
by the department.
(m) Procedures. Roberts Rules of Order are the basis
of parliamentary decisions, except where otherwise provided by law
or rule.
(1) Any action taken by the committee must be approved
by a majority vote of the members present, once quorum is established.
(2) Each member has one vote.
(3) A member may not authorize another individual to
represent the member by proxy.
(4) The committee makes decisions in the discharge
of its duties without discrimination based on any person's race, creed,
gender, religion, national origin, age, physical condition, or economic
status.
(5) Minutes of each committee meeting are taken by
department staff and approved by the committee at the next scheduled
meeting.
(n) Statement by members.
(1) The commission, the department, and the committee
are not bound in any way by any statement, recommendation, or action
on the part of any committee member, except when a statement or action
is in pursuit of specific instructions from the commission, the department,
or the committee.
Cont'd... |
