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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