S.B. No. 984
AN ACT
relating to public health disaster and public health emergency
preparedness and response, including the operation of the Task
Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.027 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.027. TRAUMA SERVICE AREA REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING. (a) Each trauma service area
regional advisory council shall collect from each hospital located
in the regional advisory council's trauma service area the
de-identified health care data, including demographic data,
necessary for this state and the area to effectively plan for and
respond to public health disasters and communicable or infectious
disease emergencies in this state. The executive commissioner by
rule shall prescribe the data each council must collect under this
subsection.
(b) A trauma service area regional advisory council shall:
(1) provide the data collected under Subsection (a) to
the department; and
(2) make the data publicly available by:
(A) posting the data on the regional advisory
council's Internet website; or
(B) if the regional advisory council does not
maintain an Internet website, providing the data in writing on
request.
(c) Information collected or maintained under this section
that identifies a patient is confidential and exempt from
disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
SECTION 2. Section 81.404(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The governor may appoint members of the task force as
necessary, including members from relevant state agencies, members
with expertise in infectious diseases and other issues involved in
the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, and members
from institutions of higher education in this state. The governor
shall appoint to the task force:
(1) at least one member who is a county judge of a
county with a population of less than 100,000;
(2) at least one member who is a county judge of a
county with a population of 100,000 or more;
(3) at least one member who is a representative of a
local health authority serving a rural area;
(4) at least one member who is a representative of a
local health authority serving an urban area;
(5) at least one member who is a licensed nurse; [and]
(6) at least one member who is emergency medical
services personnel, as defined by Section 773.003; and
(7) at least one member who is an epidemiologist.
SECTION 3. Section 81.406(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The task force shall meet:
(1) at least once each year at a location determined by
the task force director; and
(2) at other times and locations as determined by the
task force director [of the task force].
SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2022, the governor
shall appoint the member of the Task Force on Infectious Disease
Preparedness and Response as required by Section 81.404(a)(7),
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 5. The Department of State Health Services or a
trauma service area regional advisory council is required to
implement Section 81.027, Health and Safety Code, as added by 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 or a trauma service
area regional advisory council may, but is not required to,
implement Section 81.027 using other appropriations available for
that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 984 passed the Senate on
April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 984 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 144,
Nays 3, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor