86R3303 LED-F
By: Klick H.B. No. 1848
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prevention of communicable diseases in certain
long-term care facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subdivision (4-a) and adding Subdivision (4-b)
to read as follows:
(4-a) "Long-term care facility" means a facility
licensed or regulated under Chapter 242, 247, or 252.
(4-b) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by
Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. The term includes a
sheriff or constable.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 81.014 and 81.015 to read as
follows:
Sec. 81.014. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY INFECTION PREVENTION
AND CONTROL PROGRAM. (a) Each long-term care facility's infection
prevention and control program must include:
(1) monitoring of key infectious agents,
including multidrug-resistant organisms;
(2) procedures for communicating the presence of
multidrug-resistant organism infections when admitting a resident
to or transferring a resident from the facility; and
(3) procedures for making rapid influenza diagnostic
tests available to facility residents.
(b) Subject to the confidentiality requirements of this
chapter, the commission shall ensure that each long-term care
facility's infection prevention and control program includes a
requirement for the facility to report to the health authority or
the department when two or more confirmed cases of influenza occur
among facility residents within a 72-hour period.
Sec. 81.015. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP REGIONAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES. (a) The department shall establish a regional
advisory committee in each public health region designated under
Section 121.007 to address antimicrobial stewardship in long-term
care facilities and to improve antimicrobial stewardship through
collaborative action.
(b) A regional advisory committee established under this
section must include:
(1) physicians;
(2) directors of nursing or equivalent consultants
with long-term care facilities;
(3) public health officials knowledgeable about
antimicrobial stewardship; and
(4) other interested parties.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.