HB4838 - Relating to conducting an assessment of language accessibility with respect to certain health and human services programs and 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas Information and Referral Network.

  89R15287 AND-F     By: Morales Shaw, Lalani, McLaughlin, Flores, H.B. No. 4838       Lopez of Cameron, et al.       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to conducting an assessment of language accessibility with   respect to certain health and human services programs and 2-1-1   services provided by the Texas Information and Referral Network.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  (a) In this section:                (1)  "Commission" means the Health and Human Services   Commission.                (2)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive   commissioner of the commission.          (b)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this   Act, the commission shall employ a language access coordinator to   conduct an assessment of and identify gaps in non-English speakers'   access to the health and human services programs administered by   the commission and 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas Information   and Referral Network.          (c)  Not later than the first anniversary of the date the   commission employs a language access coordinator under Subsection   (b) of this section, the coordinator shall conduct the assessment   described by that subsection and submit to the executive   commissioner a written report that:                (1)  summarizes the findings of the assessment; and                (2)  provides recommendations for increasing   non-English speakers' access to health and human services programs   and 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas Information and Referral   Network throughout this state.          SECTION 2.  This Act expires June 1, 2027.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.