| (a) The committee. The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
Task Force (committee) is appointed under and governed by this section.
The committee is established under Texas Health and Safety Code, §§34.001
- 34.018.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the committee is to study
cases of pregnancy-related deaths and trends in severe maternal morbidity
and to make recommendations to reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related
deaths and severe maternal morbidity in Texas.
(c) Tasks. The committee:
(1) studies and reviews:
(A) cases of pregnancy-related deaths;
(B) trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related
deaths and severe maternal morbidity;
(C) health conditions and factors that disproportionately
affect the most at-risk populations as determined in the joint biennial
report required under Texas Health and Safety Code, §34.015;
and
(D) best practices and programs operating in other
states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths;
(2) compares rates of pregnancy-related deaths based
on the socioeconomic status of the mother;
(3) determines the feasibility of the committee studying
cases of severe maternal morbidity; and
(4) in consultation with the Perinatal Advisory Council,
makes recommendations to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related
deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this state.
(d) Reports. No later than September 1 of each even-numbered
year, the committee must submit a biennial written report to the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
appropriate committees of the Texas Legislature.
(1) The report must include:
(A) the findings of the committee related to their
study and review of cases and trends in pregnancy-related deaths and
severe maternal morbidity in this state; and
(B) any policy recommendations made to the HHSC Executive
Commissioner to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths
and severe maternal morbidity.
(2) DSHS must disseminate the report to the state professional
associations and organizations listed in Texas Health and Safety Code, §34.006(b).
(e) Sunset Provision. The committee is subject to Texas
Government Code, Chapter 325, (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
in existence as provided by that chapter, the committee is abolished
and this section expires September 1, 2023.
(f) Composition. The committee is composed of 17 members:
(1) fifteen members appointed by the DSHS Commissioner:
(A) four physicians specializing in obstetrics, at
least one of whom is a maternal fetal medicine specialist;
(B) one certified nurse-midwife;
(C) one registered nurse;
(D) one nurse specializing in labor and delivery;
(E) one physician specializing in family practice;
(F) one physician specializing in psychiatry;
(G) one physician specializing in pathology;
(H) one epidemiologist, biostatistician, or researcher
of pregnancy-related deaths;
(I) one social worker or social service provider;
(J) one community advocate in a relevant field;
(K) one medical examiner or coroner responsible for
recording deaths; and
(L) one physician specializing in critical care;
(2) a representative of DSHS's family and community
health programs; and
(3) the state epidemiologist for DSHS or the epidemiologist's
designee.
(4) In appointing members to the committee, the DSHS
Commissioner:
(A) includes members working in and representing communities
that are diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status,
and English proficiency;
(B) includes members from differing geographic regions
in the state, including both rural and urban areas;
(C) endeavors to include members who are working in
and representing communities that are affected by pregnancy-related
deaths and severe maternal morbidity and by a lack of access to relevant
perinatal and intrapartum care services; and
(D) ensures that the composition of the committee reflects
the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of Texas.
(g) Terms of office.
(1) Members are appointed for staggered six-year terms,
with the terms of four or five members, as appropriate, expiring February
1st of each odd-numbered year.
(2) A committee member may serve more than one term.
(3) If a vacancy occurs, a person is appointed to serve
the unexpired portion of that term.
(h) Officers. The DSHS Commissioner appoints from among
the committee members a presiding officer.
(1) The presiding officer presides at all committee
meetings at which he or she is in attendance, calls meetings in accordance
with this section, appoints subcommittees of the committee as necessary,
and causes proper reports to be made to the HHSC Executive Commissioner.
The presiding officer may serve as an ex officio member of any subcommittee
of the committee.
(2) The committee may reference its presiding officer
by another term, such as chairperson.
(i) Meetings. The committee meets at least quarterly
to conduct business, or at the call of the DSHS Commissioner.
(1) The committee meets at the call of the presiding
officer.
(2) Meeting arrangements are made by DSHS staff.
(3) The committee is subject to the Open Meetings Act,
Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, except when the committee conducts
a closed meeting to review cases under Texas Health and Safety Code, §34.007.
Meetings may be conducted in person, through teleconference call,
or by means of other technology.
(4) A simple majority of the appointed committee members
constitutes a quorum for the purpose of transacting official business.
(5) The committee is authorized to transact official
business only when in a legally constituted meeting with a quorum
present.
(6) The agenda for each committee meeting must include
an opportunity for new business or for any member to address the committee
on matters relating to committee business.
(7) The committee shall allow for public comment during
at least one public meeting each year.
(8) The committee shall present in open session recommendations
made under Texas Health and Safety Code, §34.005 to help reduce
the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity
in this state.
(9) The committee shall post public notice for meetings
conducted for the sole purpose of reviewing cases for selection under
Texas Health and Safety Code, §34.007.
(j) Attendance. Members must attend committee meetings
as scheduled.
(1) A member must notify the presiding officer or appropriate
DSHS staff if he or she is unable to attend a scheduled meeting.
(2) It is grounds for removal from the committee if
a member cannot discharge the member's duties for a substantial part
of the term for which the member is appointed because of illness or
disability, is absent from more than half of the committee meetings
during a calendar year, or 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.
(k) Staff. Staff support for the committee is provided
by DSHS staff.
(l) Confidentiality.
(1) Any information pertaining to a pregnancy-related
death or severe maternal morbidity is confidential.
(2) Confidential information that is acquired by DSHS
and that includes identifying information of an individual or health
care provider is confidential and may not be disclosed to any person.
(3) Information is not confidential under this section
if the information is general information that cannot be connected
with any specific individual, case, or health care provider.
(4) The committee may publish statistical studies and
research reports based on information that is confidential under this
section, provided that the information:
(A) is published in the aggregate;
(B) does not identify a patient or the patient's family;
(C) does not include any information that could be
used to identify a patient or the patient's family; and
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