| 1 | 1 | | 87R5396 MCF-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Campos H.B. No. 1234 |
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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 duties of the Task Force on Infectious Disease |
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| 8 | 8 | | Preparedness and Response. |
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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 81.401, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 81.401. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this subchapter: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus |
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| 14 | 14 | | disease. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) "Task [, "task] force" means the Task Force on |
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| 16 | 16 | | Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 2. Section 81.403, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 18 | 18 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 19 | 19 | | Sec. 81.403. TASK FORCE; DUTIES. (a) The Task Force on |
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| 20 | 20 | | Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response is created as an |
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| 21 | 21 | | advisory panel to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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| 22 | 22 | | speaker of the house of representatives. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) The task force shall: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (1) provide expert, evidence-based assessments, |
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| 25 | 25 | | protocols, and recommendations related to state responses to |
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| 26 | 26 | | infectious diseases, including Ebola and COVID-19; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) serve as a reliable and transparent source of |
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| 28 | 28 | | information and education for Texas leadership and citizens. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 3. Section 81.405, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 30 | 30 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | Sec. 81.405. REPORTS. (a) The task force may make written |
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| 32 | 32 | | reports on its findings and recommendations, including legislative |
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| 33 | 33 | | recommendations, to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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| 34 | 34 | | speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the |
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| 35 | 35 | | legislature. |
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| 36 | 36 | | (b) Not later than the second anniversary of the date a |
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| 37 | 37 | | public health disaster is declared, the task force shall: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (1) evaluate the state's preparedness and response to |
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| 39 | 39 | | the public health disaster; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (2) submit a written report to the governor, the |
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| 41 | 41 | | lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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| 42 | 42 | | and each member of the legislature containing the task force's |
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| 43 | 43 | | findings and recommendations, including any legislative |
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| 44 | 44 | | recommendations. |
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| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 46 | 46 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 47 | 47 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 48 | 48 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 49 | 49 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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