Bill Text: TX SB968 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Relating to public health disaster and public health emergency preparedness and response; providing a civil penalty.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-16 - Effective immediately [SB968 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB968-Introduced.html

---

87R8397 SCL-D
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 968

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public health disaster and public health emergency
preparedness and response; providing a civil penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.0435 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.0435. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT CONTRACTS.
(a) The division shall enter into a contract with a manufacturer of
personal protective equipment that guarantees the division is given
priority in the purchase of the equipment over other persons,
including other states and local governments, during a public
health disaster declared under Section 81.0813, Health and Safety
Code.
(b) The division may purchase personal protective equipment
under a contract described by Subsection (a) only if:
(1) a public health disaster is declared by the
commissioner of state health services under Section 81.0813, Health
and Safety Code; and
(2) the division determines the state's supply of
personal protective equipment will be insufficient based on an
evaluation of the personal protective equipment:
(A) held in reserve in this state; and
(B) supplied by or expected to be supplied by the
federal government.
(c) The division shall pursue all available federal funding
to cover the costs of personal protective equipment purchased under
a contract described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subdivision (7) and adding Subdivision (7-a) to
read as follows:
(7) "Public health disaster" means:
(A) a declaration by the governor of a state of
disaster; and
(B) a determination by the commissioner that
there exists an immediate threat from a communicable disease that:
(i) poses a high risk of death or serious
harm [long-term disability] to the public [a large number of
people]; and
(ii) creates a substantial risk of harmful
public exposure [because of the disease's high level of contagion
or the method by which the disease is transmitted].
(7-a) "Public health emergency" means a determination
by the commissioner, evidenced in an emergency order issued by the
commissioner, that there exists an immediate threat from a
communicable disease, health condition, or chemical, biological,
radiological, or electromagnetic exposure that:
(A) potentially poses a risk of death or severe
illness or harm to the public; and
(B) potentially creates a substantial risk of
harmful exposure to the public.
SECTION 3. The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Health
and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER B. PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS
SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 81.025 and 81.026 to read as
follows:
Sec. 81.025. PREPAREDNESS PLANNING WITH OTHER STATE
AGENCIES. (a) The department, the commission, and the Texas
Division of Emergency Management shall jointly:
(1) conduct annual local and regional public health
disaster and public health emergency planning; and
(2) develop standard and uniform protocols for public
health disasters and public health emergencies.
(b) The department, the commission, and the Texas Division
of Emergency Management shall develop and enter into a memorandum
of understanding to clearly define the roles of each agency during a
public health disaster and during a public health emergency.
Sec. 81.026. HEALTH FACILITY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this
section, "facility" means a health facility licensed by the
commission under Title 4.
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish:
(1) a public health disaster and public health
emergency plan for facilities;
(2) minimum standards for the public health disaster
and public health emergency plans developed by each facility; and
(3) the minimum requirements for the amount of
personal protective equipment to be held in reserve by each
facility for use during a public health disaster or public health
emergency.
(c) Each facility shall develop and annually update a public
health disaster and public health emergency plan for the facility.
SECTION 5. Section 81.044, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) In this subsection, "cycle threshold value" means for
a communicable disease test the number of thermal cycles required
for the fluorescent signal to exceed that of the background and
cross the threshold for a positive test. The executive
commissioner shall require the reports to contain the cycle
threshold values and their reference ranges for the reportable
disease that is the subject of the report.
SECTION 6. Section 81.081, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 81.081. DEPARTMENT'S DUTY. The department shall
coordinate statewide or regional efforts and collaborate with local
elected officials, including county officials, [impose control
measures] to prevent the spread of disease and [in the exercise of
its power to] protect the public health.
SECTION 7. Subchapter E, Chapter 81, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 81.0813, 81.0814, 81.0815, and
81.0816 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.0813. AUTHORITY TO DECLARE PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER
OR ORDER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. (a) The commissioner may declare
a statewide or regional public health disaster or order a statewide
or regional public health emergency if the commissioner determines
an occurrence or threat to public health is imminent. The
commissioner may declare a public health disaster only if the
governor declares a state of disaster under Chapter 418, Government
Code, for the occurrence or threat.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a public health
disaster or public health emergency continues until the governor or
commissioner terminates the disaster or emergency on a finding
that:
(1) the threat or danger has passed; or
(2) the disaster or emergency has been managed to the
extent emergency conditions no longer exist.
(c) A public health disaster or public health emergency
expires on the 30th day after the date the disaster or emergency is
declared or ordered unless the disaster or emergency is renewed by
the commissioner. A public health disaster or public health
emergency renewed by the commissioner expires on the 60th day after
the date the disaster or emergency is declared or ordered unless the
disaster or emergency is renewed by the legislature or a designated
legislative board.
(d) A declaration or order issued under this section must
include:
(1) a description of the nature of the disaster or
emergency;
(2) a designation of the area threatened by the
disaster or emergency;
(3) a description of the condition that created the
disaster or emergency; and
(4) if applicable:
(A) the reason for renewing the disaster or
emergency; or
(B) the reason for terminating the disaster or
emergency.
(e) A declaration or order issued under this section must be
disseminated promptly by means intended to bring its contents to
the public's attention. A statewide or regional declaration or
order shall be filed promptly with the office of the governor and
the secretary of state. A regional declaration or order shall be
filed with the county clerk or municipal secretary in each area to
which it applies, unless the circumstances attendant on the
disaster or emergency prevent or impede the filing.
Sec. 81.0814. EFFECT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER. (a) During
a public health disaster, the commissioner may:
(1) require without the adoption of a rule and in the
format and manner prescribed by the commissioner:
(A) reports of communicable diseases or other
health conditions; and
(B) additional reporting of information related
to the disaster from local health authorities, health care
providers, health care facilities, and laboratories;
(2) waive the fee required under Section 12.033 for
any type of vaccine, serum, or therapeutic the commissioner
determines is needed to respond to the disaster;
(3) authorize the issuance of control measure orders
under Section 81.083 or 81.084 by electronic delivery in accordance
with this section if necessary to respond to the disaster; and
(4) in accordance with rules adopted by the Texas
Medical Board and subject to Subsection (d), issue a statewide or
regional standing delegation order for the performance of acts
necessary to respond to the disaster.
(b) During a public health disaster, the commissioner
shall:
(1) to the extent possible, collaborate with an entity
required to report under Subsection (a)(1)(B) to plan and implement
a standardized and efficient method for submitting information to
the department; and
(2) determine the information in the reports and
records related to the cases or suspected cases of communicable
diseases or health conditions that are the subject of the disaster
that may be released to:
(A) a local health authority or public health
region designated by the department under Section 121.007;
(B) law enforcement personnel, first responders,
and computer-aided dispatch systems solely for the purpose of
protecting the health or life of a first responder or the person
identified in the report, record, or information;
(C) a county judge or the mayor of a
municipality; or
(D) a local emergency management coordinator of a
political subdivision.
(c) Electronic delivery of a control measure order
authorized under Subsection (a)(3) is in addition to a delivery
method authorized under Section 81.083 or 81.084, as applicable.
To issue a control measure order electronically, the commissioner
must obtain the consent of the individual to whom the order is
issued.
(d) If the commissioner is not a physician licensed to
practice medicine in this state, the department's chief medical
executive may issue a standing delegation order under Subsection
(a)(4). The Texas Medical Board may not take disciplinary action
against the commissioner or executive for issuing a standing
delegation order in accordance with this section. The commissioner
or executive is not liable for an act performed under a standing
delegation order issued in accordance with this section.
Sec. 81.0815. EFFECT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER. (a)
During a public health emergency, the commissioner may:
(1) require, without the adoption of a rule and in the
format and manner prescribed by the commissioner, reports of
communicable diseases or other health conditions;
(2) waive the fee required under Section 12.033 for
any type of vaccine, serum, or therapeutic the commissioner
determines is needed to respond to the emergency; and
(3) in accordance with rules adopted by the Texas
Medical Board and subject to Subsection (b), issue a statewide or
regional standing delegation order for the performance of acts
necessary to respond to the emergency.
(b) If the commissioner is not a physician licensed to
practice medicine in this state, the department's chief medical
executive may issue a standing delegation order under Subsection
(a)(3). The Texas Medical Board may not take disciplinary action
against the commissioner or chief medical executive for issuing a
standing delegation order in accordance with this section. The
commissioner or executive is not liable for an act performed under a
standing delegation order issued in accordance with this section.
Sec. 81.0816. FAILURE TO REPORT; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A
person who fails to submit a report required under Section 81.0814
or 81.0815 is liable to this state for a civil penalty of not more
than $1,000 for each failure.
(b) The attorney general at the request of the department
may bring an action to collect a civil penalty imposed under this
section.
SECTION 8. Subchapter C, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.0515 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.0515. OFFICE OF CHIEF STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST. (a)
The commissioner shall:
(1) establish an Office of Chief State Epidemiologist
within the department to provide expertise in public health
activities and policy in this state by:
(A) evaluating epidemiologic, medical, and
health care information; and
(B) identifying pertinent research and
evidence-based best practices; and
(2) appoint a physician licensed to practice medicine
in this state as the chief state epidemiologist to administer the
Office of Chief State Epidemiologist.
(b) The chief state epidemiologist must:
(1) be board certified in a medical specialty; and
(2) have significant experience in public health and
an advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related
field.
(c) The chief state epidemiologist serves as:
(1) the department expert on epidemiological matters
and on communicable and noncommunicable diseases; and
(2) the department's senior science representative and
primary contact for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and other federal agencies related to epidemiologic science and
disease surveillance.
(d) The chief state epidemiologist may provide professional
and scientific consultation regarding epidemiology and disease
control, harmful exposure, and injury prevention to state agencies,
health facilities, health service regions, local health
authorities, local health departments, and other entities.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the chief state
epidemiologist may access information from the department to
implement duties of the epidemiologist's office. Reports, records,
and information provided to the Office of Chief State
Epidemiologist that relate to an epidemiologic or toxicologic
investigation of human illness or conditions and of environmental
exposure that are harmful or believed to be harmful to the public
health are confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter
552, Government Code, and may not be released or made public on
subpoena or otherwise, except for statistical purposes if released
in a manner that prevents identification of any person.
SECTION 9. The following provisions of the Health and
Safety Code are repealed:
(1) Section 12.033(d);
(2) Section 81.041(f); and
(3) Sections 81.082(d) and (e).
SECTION 10. (a) In this section, "council" means the
Preparedness Coordinating Council advisory committee established
by the Health and Human Services Commission under Section 1001.035,
Health and Safety Code, for the Department of State Health
Services.
(b) The council shall conduct a study on this state's
response to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease. The council may
collaborate with an institution of higher education in this state
to conduct the study.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the council shall
prepare and submit a written report to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
members of the legislature on the results of the study conducted
under Subsection (b) of this section. The report must include
recommendations for legislative improvements for public health
disaster and public health emergency response and preparedness.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 11. 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, 2021.