Laws

No laws were found requiring data disaggregation based on race or ethnicity.

The Texas Health and Human Services Handbook details their data collection categories at B-1320. The racial and ethnic categories mirror the OMB categories. However, the law also states that if race or ethnicity information “is not voluntarily provided on the application form, the advisor must determine the category by asking an individual to self-identify the individual’s race. The individual’s racial identity is self-declared. If the individual does not want to provide the information, the individual’s race is listed as ‘unknown.’”

Bills

House Bill 986

A 2023 bill (House Bill 986) would require collection of demographic information for individuals who receive benefits under a health benefits program administered by the commission or agency, as follows: 

(1) the race or ethnic origin of an individual, provide the individual the option to select or identify appropriate categories and subcategories of race and ethnic origin, including:

(A)  the category of Hispanic or Latino with the option to select or identify the following subcategories:

(i)  Argentinian;

(ii)  Colombian;

(iii)  Cuban;

(iv)  Dominican (Dominican Republic);

(v)  Ecuadoran;

(vi)  Guatemalan;

(vii)  Honduran;

(viii)  Mexican;

(ix)  Nicaraguan;

(x)  Panamanian;

(xi)  Peruvian;

(xii)  Puerto Rican;

(xiii)  Salvadoran;

(xiv)  Spaniard;

(xv)  Venezuelan; and

(xvi)  another subcategory written in by the individual;

 

(B)  the category of African American with the option to select or identify the following subcategories:

(i)  Black American (born in the United States with African ancestry);

(ii)  African diaspora (born outside the United States with African origins); and

(iii)  another subcategory written in by the individual;

 

(C)  the category of Native American with the option to select or identify the following subcategories:

 (i)  Apache;

 (ii)  Cherokee;

(iii) Chickasaw;

(iv) Choctaw;

(v)  Mexican American Indian;

(vi) Navajo; and

(vii) another subcategory written in by the individual;

 

(D)  the category of Pacific Islander with the option to select or identify the following subcategories:

(i)  Chamorro;

(ii)  Guamanian;

(iii)  Marshallese; 

(iv)  Native Hawaiian;

(v)  Samoan;

(vi)  Tongan; and

(vii)  another subcategory written in by the individual;

 

(E)  the category of Asian with the option to select or identify the following subcategories:

(i)  Indian;

(ii)  Bangladeshi;

(iii)  Burmese;

(iv)  Cambodian;

(v)  Chinese (except Taiwanese);

(vi)  Filipino;

(vii)  Iranian;

(viii)  Japanese;

(ix)  Korean;

(x)  Laotian;

(xi)  Nepalese;

(xii)  Pakistani;

(xiii)  Taiwanese;

(xiv)  Thai;

(xv)  Vietnamese; and

(xvi)  another subcategory written in by the individual; and

 

(F)  the category of Middle Eastern and North African with the option to select or identify the following subcategories:

(i)  Egyptian;

(ii)  Iraqi;

(iii)  Jordanian;

(iv)  Lebanese;

(v)  Palestinian;

(vi)  Syrian; and

(vii) another subcategory written in by the individual;

 

The bill also would require collection of information about gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation. Bill status.