88R10570 EAS-D
By: Ortega H.B. No. 2151
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a border public health
multidisciplinary response team within the office of border public
health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 12.071, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 12.071. OFFICE OF BORDER PUBLIC HEALTH; BORDER PUBLIC
HEALTH MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAMS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Office" means the office of border public health
established under Subsection (b).
(2) "Response team" means the border public health
multidisciplinary response team established under Subsection (c).
(b) The department shall establish and maintain an office in
the department to coordinate and promote health and environmental
issues between this state and Mexico.
(c) The department shall establish within the office a
border public health multidisciplinary response team to:
(1) assist local health departments in responding to
public health issues at the border related to infectious diseases;
and
(2) address language, cultural, and environmental
barriers associated with treating and preventing the spread of
infectious diseases at the border.
(d) The office shall appoint members to the response team.
Each member of the response team must be bilingual in English and
Spanish and the response team must include:
(1) an epidemiologist;
(2) a sanitarian, as defined by Section 1953.001,
Occupations Code;
(3) a nurse;
(4) an individual who conducts contact tracing to
identify individuals who may have been exposed to an infectious
disease for the purpose of containing the spread of the disease; and
(5) any other person the office considers appropriate.
(e) The office shall ensure the response team is provided
with adequate training, equipment, and support staff to enable the
team to fulfill the duties assigned under this section and
strengthen border health response efforts.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act:
(1) the Department of State Health Services shall
establish the border public health multidisciplinary response team
as required by Section 12.071, Health and Safety Code, as amended by
this Act; and
(2) the Office of Border Public Health shall appoint
the members of the border public health multidisciplinary response
team as required by Section 12.071, Health and Safety Code, as
amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.