| 1 | 1 | | 87R7349 JG-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Oliverson H.B. No. 2096 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to an assessment of certain public health data reporting |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | systems and implementation of public health data reporting |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | requirements. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Health and Safety |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 81.0445 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 81.0445. PUBLIC HEALTH DATA STUDY AND REPORTING |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | REQUIREMENTS. (a) For purposes of this section, "coronavirus |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | disease public health emergency" applies to the period: |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (1) beginning on January 31, 2020, the date the United |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | States secretary of health and human services declared a public |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | health emergency under Section 319, Public Health Service Act (42 |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | U.S.C. Section 247d), with respect to the coronavirus disease |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (COVID-19); and |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (2) ending on the earlier of: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (A) the date the public health emergency |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | described by Subdivision (1) ends; or |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (B) January 1, 2023. |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (b) The department shall: |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (1) conduct a study on: |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (A) the system used by this state for reporting |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | public health data to the federal government during the coronavirus |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | disease public health emergency; and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (B) the system used by persons required to report |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | under this chapter, including local health authorities, for |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | reporting public health data to this state during the coronavirus |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | public health emergency; and |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (2) conduct a comparative analysis of the systems |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | described by Subdivision (1) and generally recognized and accepted |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | methods for public health data reporting. |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | (c) Based on the results of the study and analysis conducted |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | under Subsection (b), the department, using evidence-based, |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | standardized data reporting methods, shall: |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | (1) develop a uniform set of public health data |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | reporting requirements for this state, local health authorities, |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | and any other persons required to report under this chapter, to use |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | during a public health disaster declared under this chapter or a |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | state of disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code; and |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | (2) periodically update the reporting requirements as |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | necessary to address advancements in technology and |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | communications. |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall conduct |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | the study and analysis required by Section 81.0445, Health and |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | Safety Code, as added by this Act, and develop the public health |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | data reporting requirements under that section. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
|---|