Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 523.0004. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. The commission is subject to Chapters 2001 and 2002. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025. SUBCHAPTER B. EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER; PERSONNEL

Sec. 523.0051. EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER. (a) The commission is governed by an executive commissioner. (b) The governor appoints the executive commissioner with the advice and consent of the senate, and shall make the appointment without regard to race, color, disability, sex, relig…

Sec. 523.0052. ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT AS EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OR TO SERVE IN CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS. (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide association of business or professional competitors in this state …

Sec. 523.0053. TERM. The executive commissioner serves a two-year term expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 523.0054. MEDICAL DIRECTOR; OTHER PERSONNEL. The executive commissioner: (1) shall employ a medical director to provide medical expertise to the executive commissioner and the commission; and (2) may employ other personnel necessary to administer the commission's duties. Add…

Sec. 523.0055. CAREER LADDER PROGRAM; PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. (a) The executive commissioner shall develop an intra-agency career ladder program. The program must require the intra-agency posting of all non-entry-level positions concurrently with any public posting. (b) The exec…

Sec. 523.0056. MERIT SYSTEM. (a) The commission may establish a merit system for commission employees. (b) The merit system may be maintained in conjunction with other state agencies that are required by federal law to operate under a merit system. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., …

Sec. 523.0057. QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT INFORMATION. The executive commissioner shall provide to commission employees as often as necessary information regarding their qualifications under this chapter and their responsibilities under applicable laws relating to st…

Sec. 523.0058. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY. (a) The executive commissioner shall prepare and maintain a written policy statement that implements a program of equal employment opportunity to ensure that all personnel transactions are made without regard to race, color, dis…

Sec. 523.0059. USE OF AGENCY STAFF. To the extent the commission requests, a health and human services agency shall assign existing staff to perform a function imposed under Chapter 531 or revised provisions derived from Chapter 531, as that chapter existed on March 31, 2025. Add…

Sec. 523.0060. CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECKS. (a) In this section, "eligible individual" means an individual whose criminal history record information the executive commissioner or the executive commissioner's designee is entitled to obtain from the Department of Public Safe…

Sec. 523.0101. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. The Health and Human Services Commission Executive Council is established to receive public comment and advise the executive commissioner regarding the commission's operation. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.…

Sec. 523.0102. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The executive council shall seek and receive public comment on: (1) proposed rules; (2) advisory committee recommendations; (3) legislative appropriations requests or other documents related to the appropriations process; (4) the operation of…

Sec. 523.0103. COMPOSITION. (a) The executive council is composed of: (1) the executive commissioner; (2) the director of each division the executive commissioner established under former Section 531.008(c) before the expiration of that subsection on September 1, 2023; (3) the co…

Sec. 523.0104. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE ON EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" has the meaning assigned by Section 523.0052. (b) An individual may not serve on the executive council if: (1) the individual is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a …

Sec. 523.0105. PRESIDING OFFICER; RULES FOR OPERATION. The executive commissioner serves as the chair of the executive council and shall adopt rules for the council's operation. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 523.0106. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The executive council shall meet at the executive commissioner's call at least quarterly. The executive commissioner may call additional meetings as the executive commissioner determines necessary. (b) A majority of the executive council membe…

Sec. 523.0107. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. An executive council member appointed under Section 523.0103(a)(5) may not receive compensation for service as a council member but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses the member incurs while conducting council…

Sec. 523.0108. PUBLIC COMMENT. The executive commissioner shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the executive council which may include holding meetings in various geographic areas across this state or allowing…

Sec. 523.0109. CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter does not limit the executive commissioner's authority to establish additional advisory committees or councils. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 523.0110. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN OTHER LAW. Except as provided by Section 522.0204, Chapters 551 and 2110 do not apply to the executive council. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025. SUBCHAPTER D. COMMISSION ORGANIZATION

Sec. 523.0151. COMMISSION DIVISIONS. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish divisions within the commission along functional lines as necessary for effective administration and the discharge of the commission's functions. (b) The executive commissioner may allocate and re…

Sec. 523.0152. DIVISION DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS. (a) The executive commissioner shall appoint a director for each division established within the commission under Section 523.0151, except that the director of the office of inspector general is appointed in accorda…

Sec. 523.0153. DIVISION DIRECTOR DUTIES. (a) The executive commissioner shall clearly define the duties and responsibilities of a division director. (b) The executive commissioner shall develop clear policies for the delegation to division directors of specific decision-making au…

Sec. 523.0154. DATA ANALYSIS UNIT; ANNUAL REPORTS. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish a data analysis unit within the commission to establish, employ, and oversee data analysis processes designed to: (1) improve contract management; (2) detect data trends; and (3) ide…

Sec. 523.0155. OFFICE OF POLICY AND PERFORMANCE. (a) In this section, "office" means the office of policy and performance established under this section. (b) The executive commissioner shall establish the office of policy and performance as an executive-level office designed to c…

Sec. 523.0156. PURCHASING UNIT. (a) The commission shall establish a purchasing unit to manage administrative activities related to the purchasing functions within the health and human services system. (b) The purchasing unit shall: (1) seek to achieve targeted cost reductions, i…

Sec. 523.0201. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The executive commissioner shall establish and maintain advisory committees to consider issues and solicit public input across all major areas of the health and human services system which may be from various geographic areas a…

Sec. 523.0202. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110 applies to an advisory committee established under this subchapter. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 523.0203. RULES FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The executive commissioner shall adopt rules: (1) in compliance with Chapter 2110 to govern the purpose, tasks, reporting requirements, and date of abolition of an advisory committee established under this subchapter; and (2) related …

Sec. 523.0204. PUBLIC ACCESS TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS. (a) This section applies to an advisory committee established under this subchapter. (b) The commission shall create a master calendar that includes all advisory committee meetings across the health and human services s…

Sec. 523.0205. ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTING. An advisory committee established under this subchapter shall: (1) report any recommendations to the executive commissioner; and (2) submit a written report to the legislature of any policy recommendations the advisory committee made t…

Sec. 523.0251. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND INPUT GENERALLY. (a) The commission shall develop and implement policies that provide the public a reasonable opportunity to appear before the commission and speak on any issue under the commission's jurisdiction. (b) The commission …

Sec. 523.0252. PUBLIC HEARINGS. (a) The commission biennially shall conduct a series of public hearings in diverse locations throughout this state to give citizens of this state an opportunity to comment on health and human services issues. The commission shall conduct a sufficie…

Sec. 523.0253. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING. (a) In addition to the notice required by Chapter 551, the commission shall: (1) publish notice of a public hearing under Section 523.0252 in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the hearing is to be held; and (2) prov…

Sec. 523.0254. COMPLAINTS. (a) The commission shall prepare information of public interest describing the commission's procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the commission. The commission shall make the information available to the public and appropriate s…

Sec. 523.0301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "office" means the Office of Health Coordination and Consumer Services. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.

Sec. 523.0302. OFFICE; STAFF. (a) The Office of Health Coordination and Consumer Services is an office within the commission. (b) The executive commissioner shall employ staff as needed to carry out the duties of the office. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611…

Sec. 523.0303. GOALS. The goals of the office are to: (1) promote community support for parents of children younger than six years of age through an integrated state and local-level decision-making process; and (2) provide for the seamless delivery of health and human services to…

Sec. 523.0304. STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The office shall create and implement a statewide strategic plan for the delivery of health and human services to children younger than six years of age. (b) In developing the statewide strategic plan, the office shall: (1) consider existing pro…

Sec. 523.0305. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The office shall identify: (1) gaps in early childhood services by functional area and geographical area; (2) state policies, rules, and service procedures that prevent or inhibit children younger than six years of age from accessing availabl…

Sec. 523.0306. TEXAS HOME VISITING PROGRAM TRUST FUND. (a) The Texas Home Visiting Program trust fund is a trust fund outside the treasury with the comptroller. The fund is administered by the office under this section and rules the executive commissioner adopts. Money in the fun…

Sec. 523.0351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Department" means the Department of Family and Protective Services. (2) "Ombudsman" means the individual appointed as the ombudsman for an ombudsman program. (3) "Ombudsman program" means an ombudsman program administered by th…

Sec. 523.0352. ESTABLISHMENT OF OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS. The executive commissioner shall establish the following ombudsman programs: (1) the health and human services office of the ombudsman in accordance with Section 523.0353; (2) the ombudsman for children and youth in foster care …

Sec. 523.0353. OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish the commission's office of the ombudsman with authority and responsibility over the health and human services system in performing the following functions: (1) providing dispute resolution services…

Sec. 523.0354. APPOINTMENT OF OMBUDSMAN. The executive commissioner shall appoint an ombudsman for each ombudsman program to serve at the will of the executive commissioner. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1168 (S.B. 830), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts…