Bill Text: TX SB1681 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub

Texas Senate Bill 1681 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Center.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-19 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB1681 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB1681-Comm_Sub.html



	By: Lucio	S.B. No. 1681
	(In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2017; April 26, 2017, read
	first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
	April 26, 2017, rereferred to Committee on Intergovernmental
	Relations; May 3, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable
	Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 2;
	May 3, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1681	By: Campbell


	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT

	relating to the establishment of the Communicable Disease and
	Public Health Center.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to:
	(1) address the communicable disease and public health
	challenges of the international border region;
	(2) develop a unified message that will enable this
	state to:
	(A) maximize the use of local resources;
	(B) increase efficiency and reduce duplication
	of staff resources; and
	(C) strengthen collaboration with local
	governmental entities; and
	(3) foster a greater local and regional capacity to
	address the diseases and allow the border region and this state to
	capitalize on the expertise and insight of local health
	professionals and departments to better serve the border
	communities and region and this state.
	SECTION 2. Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
	adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER K. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER
	Sec. 81.451. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "center"
	means the Communicable Disease and Public Health Center established
	under this subchapter.
	Sec. 81.452. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO ESTABLISH
	CENTER. The department may enter into a memorandum of
	understanding with a county located on an international border that
	has a population of at least 700,000 and that has as its county seat
	a municipality with a population of less than 100,000 to establish
	and jointly operate a Communicable Disease and Public Health
	Center.
	Sec. 81.453. DONATION OF LAND. The governing body of a
	county described by Section 81.452, or a municipality, institution
	of higher education, community organization, or health care
	provider in that county, may donate real property to the department
	for the center. The donation may be in fee simple or otherwise.
	Sec. 81.454. ASSISTANCE FROM CERTAIN ENTITIES. The local
	health department of a county that enters into a memorandum of
	understanding under Section 81.452 may seek the assistance of a
	municipality, institution of higher education, community
	organization, or health care provider in the local health
	department's jurisdiction to establish and operate the center.
	Sec. 81.455. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER.
	(a) The governing body of a county described by Section 81.452 may
	enter into an agreement with a municipality, institution of higher
	education, community organization, or health care provider in that
	county to:
	(1) provide a central repository of vector control
	resources for municipalities in a county described by Section
	81.452 and counties adjacent to that county;
	(2) develop local surveillance, outreach, and
	response campaigns to address communicable disease and potential
	vectors of communicable disease;
	(3) provide local, regional, and international
	health-related briefings;
	(4) cooperate with local, regional, state, and
	international officials to:
	(A) increase environmental awareness to reduce
	sources for vector development; and
	(B) develop recommendations for implementing
	nuisance abatement policies;
	(5) with the assistance of appropriate authorities,
	facilitate any necessary method of vector control, including
	trapping, adulticiding, and larviciding of vector populations
	along the international border;
	(6) provide to health care professionals current
	information, including health advisories and guidance with
	communicable disease case management, regarding communicable
	disease and potential vectors of communicable disease;
	(7) in cooperation with state, federal, and
	international partners, educate and provide health care screenings
	to populations at high risk of contracting a communicable disease
	that are traditionally difficult to contact, including individuals
	not lawfully present in the United States; and
	(8) facilitate information sharing between local and
	state entities.
	(b) A local campaign developed under Subsection (a)(2) must
	be in both English and Spanish.
	(c) The center may serve as a call center for concerns
	regarding communicable disease and public health along the
	international border.
	(d) A local health department in each county immediately
	adjacent to an international border shall report to the center
	information regarding:
	(1) incidents of communicable disease in the county;
	(2) public health challenges in the county; and
	(3) any other public health or communicable disease
	issue, as required by the department.
	(e) The local health department of a county that enters into
	a memorandum of understanding under Section 81.452 shall:
	(1) collaborate with the local health department of
	each adjoining county; and
	(2) meet with a representative of each local health
	department described by Subdivision (1) to discuss the health
	status of each county and address the occurrence and control of
	communicable disease in each county.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

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