| 1 | 1 | | 84R7973 SCL-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Martinez H.B. No. 1971 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the requirements and protocols for the use of nighttime |
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| 8 | 8 | | triage equipment by emergency medical services personnel. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Subdivision (18-a) to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (18-a) "Nighttime triage equipment" means a |
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| 13 | 13 | | multicolored illuminated tag with blue, green, red, and yellow |
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| 14 | 14 | | lights that is reusable, water resistant to 30 feet, and able to |
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| 15 | 15 | | provide a flashing and a solid light. |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Section 773.112, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 17 | 17 | | amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (d) If the department determines under Section 773.1135(b) |
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| 19 | 19 | | that nighttime triage equipment is appropriate for any emergency |
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| 20 | 20 | | medical services and trauma care system, the rules adopted under |
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| 21 | 21 | | Subsection (a) must establish minimum requirements for resources |
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| 22 | 22 | | and equipment used by emergency medical services personnel in a |
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| 23 | 23 | | trauma service area to treat patients at night and during adverse |
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| 24 | 24 | | conditions using nighttime triage equipment. |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 3. Section 773.1135, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 26 | 26 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 27 | 27 | | Sec. 773.1135. DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. (a) The department |
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| 28 | 28 | | shall develop performance measures for regional advisory councils |
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| 29 | 29 | | in trauma service areas to: |
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| 30 | 30 | | (1) promote the provision of a minimum level of |
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| 31 | 31 | | emergency medical services in a trauma service area in accordance |
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| 32 | 32 | | with the rules adopted under Section 773.112; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (2) promote the provision of quality care and service |
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| 34 | 34 | | by the emergency medical services and trauma care system in |
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| 35 | 35 | | accordance with the rules adopted under Section 773.112; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (3) maximize the accuracy of information provided by a |
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| 37 | 37 | | regional advisory council to the department or bureau for increased |
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| 38 | 38 | | council effectiveness. |
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| 39 | 39 | | (b) The department shall determine whether nighttime triage |
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| 40 | 40 | | equipment is appropriate for each emergency medical services and |
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| 41 | 41 | | trauma care system. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 4. Section 773.114, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 43 | 43 | | amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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| 44 | 44 | | (c) If the department determines under Section 773.1135(b) |
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| 45 | 45 | | that nighttime triage equipment is appropriate for any emergency |
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| 46 | 46 | | medical services and trauma care system, that system must have |
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| 47 | 47 | | protocols for the use of nighttime triage equipment at night and |
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| 48 | 48 | | during adverse conditions. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 50 | 50 | | of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall |
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| 51 | 51 | | determine whether nighttime triage equipment is appropriate for any |
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| 52 | 52 | | emergency medical services and trauma care system, and the |
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| 53 | 53 | | executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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| 54 | 54 | | shall adopt any rules necessary to implement Section 773.112(d), |
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| 55 | 55 | | Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 56 | 56 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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