By: Lucio, et al. S.B. No. 1119
(Guerra)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a border public health initiative
by the Department of State Health Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 65 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 65. BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE
Sec. 65.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Border county" means a county adjacent to this
state's international border with Mexico.
(2) "Promotora" or "community health worker" has the
meaning assigned by Section 48.001.
Sec. 65.0002. BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE. (a) The
department shall develop an initiative to reduce the adverse health
impacts of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity for adults and
children in border counties. The initiative must promote:
(1) educational resources designed to prevent those
conditions;
(2) screenings of persons at risk for those
conditions; and
(3) referrals to and treatment by health care
providers for those conditions.
(b) In developing the border public health initiative, the
department may consult and collaborate with:
(1) other health and human services agencies;
(2) other appropriate state or federal agencies;
(3) health science centers and medical schools; and
(4) public and private health care providers and
hospitals.
Sec. 65.0003. OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS. To implement the border
public health initiative described by Section 65.0002, the
department shall conduct bilingual, culturally appropriate
outreach campaigns in consultation and collaboration with
appropriate individuals and entities that may include:
(1) promotoras and community health workers;
(2) academic centers located in border counties;
(3) nonprofit organizations;
(4) public schools;
(5) public and private health care providers and
hospitals;
(6) worksite wellness programs;
(7) local business and health care providers that
provide early detection of prediabetes, prehypertension, and
obesity; and
(8) other local entities, as the department determines
appropriate.
Sec. 65.0004. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2023, the
department shall prepare and electronically submit to the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the legislature a report describing:
(1) health outcomes and health care savings resulting
from prevention, screenings, and treatment of chronic diseases
under the border public health initiative; and
(2) other relevant findings, as determined by the
department, resulting from the border public health initiative.
Sec. 65.0005. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires December
31, 2031.
SECTION 2. The Department of State Health Services is
required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a
provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.