87R2923 RDS-D
By: Turner of Dallas H.B. No. 2271
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a state plan for responding to pandemics.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.0423 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.0423. PANDEMIC RESPONSE PLAN. (a) In this
section, "pandemic" means an emerging infectious disease threat
that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
(b) The division shall prepare and keep current a pandemic
response plan. The plan may include provisions for:
(1) consulting infectious disease experts regarding:
(A) risk assessment;
(B) identification of the pathogen; and
(C) key questions about the pathogen that may
affect the size, scale, and design of the response;
(2) preventing and minimizing injury and damage caused
by a pandemic;
(3) prompt and effective response to a pandemic;
(4) emergency relief;
(5) identifying areas and populations particularly
vulnerable to the occurrence of a pandemic;
(6) communicating with governmental and private
entities, including entities listed in Section 418.051, to
facilitate coordination and collaboration for the efficient and
effective planning and execution of a pandemic response plan;
(7) organizing federal, state, and local pandemic
response activities;
(8) assisting local officials in designing local
pandemic response plans;
(9) preparing and distributing to appropriate state
and local officials catalogs of federal, state, and private
assistance programs; and
(10) other necessary matters relating to pandemics.
(c) In preparing and revising the pandemic response plan,
the division shall seek the assistance of:
(1) any necessary federal, state, or local
governmental entity;
(2) medical experts specializing in infectious
disease; and
(3) community leaders and business, labor,
agriculture, civic, and volunteer organizations.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.