87R1479 KKR-D
By: Lucio III H.B. No. 728
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public health laboratory testing capabilities in
certain counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 12, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 12.0725, 12.073, and 12.074 to
read as follows:
Sec. 12.0725. PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY REPORT. (a) Not
later than September 1, 2022, the department shall prepare and
submit a written or electronic report to the legislature on public
laboratories in counties adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border. The
report must include:
(1) information on the existing testing capabilities
of the public laboratories, focusing on clinical, environmental,
and zoonotic testing capabilities; and
(2) recommendations to increase the efficiency,
effectiveness, and productivity of the public laboratories through
administrative action and legislation.
(b) The department shall collaborate with local health
departments established under Subchapter D, Chapter 121, and public
and private testing laboratories to collect information and develop
recommendations for the report.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2023.
Sec. 12.073. LOCAL AGREEMENTS TO INCREASE LABORATORY
TESTING. (a) Using available resources and as the department
determines appropriate, the department shall enter into agreements
with institutions of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code, and public and private testing laboratories in this
state to increase the availability of public health laboratory
testing services for local health departments established under
Subchapter D, Chapter 121, in counties adjacent to the Texas-Mexico
border.
(b) The agreements must establish protocols that:
(1) ensure confidentiality of the laboratory testing;
(2) require the testing procedures to satisfy state
standards for laboratory testing;
(3) provide cost-effective resources to local health
departments to increase the availability of laboratory testing in
border counties;
(4) enhance the laboratory testing capacity,
including testing of human and nonhuman specimens, in border
counties; and
(5) ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and
accuracy of laboratory test results.
Sec. 12.074. YEAR-ROUND ACCESS TO LABORATORY TESTING FOR
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES. (a) Using available resources
and as the department determines appropriate, the department shall
support access to year-round laboratory testing for vector-borne
and zoonotic diseases to record and address local outbreaks of
vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in border counties that are most
at risk for the year-round outbreaks, including Maverick, Val
Verde, Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron Counties.
(b) The department may directly authorize access to the
testing or may enter into a local agreement under Section 12.073 to
authorize access to the testing. The testing may include, as
appropriate:
(1) arboviral testing;
(2) speciation testing;
(3) PCR testing;
(4) IgM testing;
(5) IgG testing; and
(6) any other testing the department determines
appropriate.
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, 2021.