85R3963 AAF-D
By: Creighton S.B. No. 908
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation of medical supply transport vehicles
during a declared state of disaster.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 546, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER C. OPERATION OF MEDICAL SUPPLY TRANSPORT VEHICLES
Sec. 546.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Emergency care facility" means a health care
facility, including a freestanding emergency medical care
facility, hospital, temporary emergency clinic, and trauma
facility, that provides emergency medical care.
(2) "Freestanding emergency medical care facility"
means a facility licensed under Chapter 254, Health and Safety
Code.
(3) "Medical supply distributor" means a person
authorized to transport prescription drugs and other medical
supplies to emergency care facilities or pharmacies.
(4) "Pharmacy" has the meaning assigned by Section
551.003, Occupations Code.
(5) "Trauma facility" has the meaning assigned by
Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
Sec. 546.052. MEDICAL SUPPLY TRANSPORT VEHICLES DURING
DECLARED DISASTER. (a) A vehicle used by a medical supply
distributor to transport prescription drugs and other medical
supplies to an emergency care facility or pharmacy located in an
area declared a disaster area by the governor under Chapter 418,
Government Code, may have access to highways, streets, and bridges
as if the transport vehicle were an emergency vehicle if:
(1) law enforcement officials in the disaster area can
provide adequate security to protect the prescription drugs and
other medical supplies from theft;
(2) the weight of the transport vehicle will not
jeopardize the structural integrity of any highway, street, or
bridge located in the disaster area; and
(3) the transport vehicle will not negatively impact
evacuation activities or any response or recovery activities in the
disaster area.
(b) The Texas Division of Emergency Management shall:
(1) establish procedures to assist medical supply
distributors in accessing highways, streets, and bridges as
authorized by Subsection (a); and
(2) provide medical supply distributors with
documentation specifying the distributors' access to highways,
streets, and bridges as authorized by Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas
Division of Emergency Management shall establish the procedures
required by Section 546.052(b), Transportation Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.