82R9995 JSC-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 2505
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force on lowering the
incidence of premature births and improving the care of premature
infants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(3) "Premature infant" means an infant born before 39
weeks of gestation.
(4) "Task force" means the Task Force on Premature
Infants established under this section.
(b) The executive commissioner shall establish a task force
to assist the department and appropriate health and human services
agencies in developing recommendations for:
(1) lowering the incidence of births before 39 weeks
of gestation; and
(2) ensuring the proper care of premature infants
after they are discharged from the hospital.
(c) The executive commissioner shall determine the number
of members to serve on the task force. The task force must include:
(1) one or more neonatologists;
(2) a representative from the March of Dimes;
(3) representatives from parent organizations; and
(4) representatives from statewide hospital
associations.
(d) The executive commissioner shall designate a member of
the task force to serve as presiding officer. The members of the
task force shall elect any other necessary officers.
(e) The task force shall meet at the call of the executive
commissioner.
(f) A member of the task force serves at the will of the
executive commissioner.
(g) A member of the task force may not receive compensation
for serving on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for
travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the
business of the task force as provided by the General
Appropriations Act.
(h) The task force shall investigate:
(1) rehospitalization of premature infants in this
state; and
(2) primary causes for births before 39 weeks of
gestation in this state.
(i) The task force shall develop recommendations to:
(1) lower the incidence of births before 39 weeks of
gestation in this state;
(2) promote continuity of care for premature infants;
and
(3) improve reporting and data collection on
nonmedically indicated cesarean sections and labor inductions
performed before 39 weeks of gestation.
(j) The task force shall develop:
(1) a standard discharge tool for use by hospitals to
reduce the rate of premature infant rehospitalization; and
(2) educational materials and planning tools,
including identification of community resources, for the family of
a premature infant who is discharged from a hospital.
(k) Not later than January 1, 2013, the task force shall
submit a report to the executive commissioner, the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the chairs of the appropriate legislative committees on its
findings and recommendations required by this section.
(l) The task force is abolished and this Act expires August
31, 2013.
SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission shall appoint members to the Task Force
on Premature Infants, as created by this Act, as soon as practicable
after the effective date of 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, 2011.