Bill Text: TX HB2950 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-19 - Effective immediately [HB2950 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB2950-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 2950 |
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relating to the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and | ||
Response. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as amended by | ||
S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, | ||
is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER J. TASK FORCE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREPAREDNESS AND | ||
RESPONSE | ||
Sec. 81.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" | ||
means the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and | ||
Response. | ||
Sec. 81.402. PURPOSE AND FINDINGS. The legislature finds | ||
that: | ||
(1) infectious diseases are responsible for more | ||
deaths worldwide than any other single cause; | ||
(2) the State of Texas has a responsibility to | ||
safeguard and protect the health and well-being of its citizens | ||
from the spread of infectious diseases; | ||
(3) on September 30, 2014, the first case of Ebola | ||
diagnosed in the United States occurred in Dallas, Texas; | ||
(4) addressing infectious diseases requires the | ||
coordination and cooperation of multiple governmental entities at | ||
the local, state, and federal levels; | ||
(5) public health and medical preparedness and | ||
response guidelines are crucial to protect the safety and welfare | ||
of our citizens; and | ||
(6) Texas has nationally recognized infectious | ||
disease experts and other highly trained professionals across the | ||
state with the experience needed to minimize any potential risk to | ||
the people of Texas. | ||
Sec. 81.403. TASK FORCE; DUTIES. (a) The Task Force on | ||
Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response is created as an | ||
advisory panel to the governor. | ||
(b) The task force shall: | ||
(1) provide expert, evidence-based assessments, | ||
protocols, and recommendations related to state responses to | ||
infectious diseases, including Ebola; and | ||
(2) serve as a reliable and transparent source of | ||
information and education for Texas leadership and citizens. | ||
Sec. 81.404. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS; TERMS. (a) The | ||
governor may appoint members of the task force as necessary, | ||
including members from relevant state agencies, members with | ||
expertise in infectious diseases and other issues involved in the | ||
prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, and members from | ||
institutions of higher education in this state. The governor shall | ||
appoint to the task force: | ||
(1) at least one member who is a county judge of a | ||
county with a population of less than 100,000; | ||
(2) at least one member who is a county judge of a | ||
county with a population of 100,000 or more; | ||
(3) at least one member who is a representative of a | ||
local health authority serving a rural area; | ||
(4) at least one member who is a representative of a | ||
local health authority serving an urban area; | ||
(5) at least one member who is a licensed nurse; and | ||
(6) at least one member who is emergency medical | ||
services personnel, as defined by Section 773.003. | ||
(b) The governor shall appoint a director of the task force | ||
from among the members of the task force. | ||
(c) The governor may fill any vacancy that occurs on the | ||
task force and may appoint additional members as needed. | ||
(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the | ||
governor. | ||
(e) A state or local employee appointed to the task force | ||
shall perform any duties required by the task force in addition to | ||
the regular duties of the employee. | ||
Sec. 81.405. REPORTS. The task force may make written | ||
reports on its findings and recommendations, including legislative | ||
recommendations, to the governor and legislature. | ||
Sec. 81.406. MEETINGS. (a) The task force shall meet at | ||
times and locations as determined by the director of the task force. | ||
(b) The task force may meet telephonically in accordance | ||
with Section 551.125(b)(3), Government Code. | ||
(c) The task force may hold public hearings to gather | ||
information. The task force shall endeavor to meet in various parts | ||
of the state to encourage local input. | ||
(d) Notwithstanding Section 551.144, Government Code, or | ||
any other law, the task force may hold a closed meeting to discuss | ||
matters that are confidential by state or federal law or to ensure | ||
public security or law enforcement needs. A closed meeting held as | ||
provided by this subsection must be held as otherwise provided by | ||
Chapter 551, Government Code. | ||
Sec. 81.407. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. State agencies with | ||
members on the task force shall provide administrative support for | ||
the task force. | ||
Sec. 81.408. REIMBURSEMENT. Task force members serve | ||
without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for | ||
travel expenses. | ||
Sec. 81.409. INFECTIOUS DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS | ||
FACILITIES AT HEALTH CARE-RELATED INSTITUTIONS. (a) The commission | ||
may enter into contracts or agreements to assist in the | ||
establishment of infectious disease emergency preparedness | ||
facilities at health care-related institutions in this state. The | ||
contracts or agreements may provide for payment by the commission | ||
to develop and equip infectious disease emergency preparedness | ||
facilities at health care-related institutions in this state, as | ||
well as for materials, equipment, services, or other items the | ||
commission considers necessary to implement this section. | ||
(b) This section expires September 1, 2017. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) On the effective date of this Act, a member | ||
serving on the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and | ||
Response created by executive order of the governor continues to | ||
serve on the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and | ||
Response under Subchapter J, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as | ||
added by this Act. | ||
(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this | ||
Act, the governor shall make any appointments to the Task Force on | ||
Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response required under | ||
Subchapter J, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, as added by this | ||
Act. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 2950 was passed by the House on May | ||
13, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 3, 2 present, not | ||
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | ||
No. 2950 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, | ||
2 present, not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 2950 was passed by the Senate, with | ||
amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays | ||
0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: __________________ | ||
Date | ||
__________________ | ||
Governor |