BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1639 By: Patterson Public Health Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that due to increased stress and various other factors, such as absorption of toxic chemicals, firefighters face an increased risk of various diseases, specifically increased risks of heart disease and cancer. The bill author has also informed the committee that studies on this topic have typically focused on the male firefighter population stemming from the lack of female firefighters in the fire service. The bill author has further informed the committee that the lack of research into female-related cancers among female firefighters disqualifies these cancers from being presumed under the worker's compensation system. H.B. 1639 seeks to address this issue by providing for a study regarding the increased risk of female-specific cancers amongst female firefighters facilitated by both the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Department of State Health Services. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1639 requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and using information from the state cancer registry, to conduct a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in Texas. The bill requires DSHS and TCFP, in conducting the study, to compare cancer rates among female firefighters in Texas to cancer rates among other women, focusing on cancers specific to women, including ovarian and breast cancer, and using registry information and data collected from readily available sources. The bill requires the following actions to be completed not later than September 1, 2026: DSHS to prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action; and DSHS and TCFP to make the report publicly available by posting the report on the agencies' and registry's respective websites. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1639
By: Patterson
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1639
By: Patterson
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that due to increased stress and various other factors, such as absorption of toxic chemicals, firefighters face an increased risk of various diseases, specifically increased risks of heart disease and cancer. The bill author has also informed the committee that studies on this topic have typically focused on the male firefighter population stemming from the lack of female firefighters in the fire service. The bill author has further informed the committee that the lack of research into female-related cancers among female firefighters disqualifies these cancers from being presumed under the worker's compensation system. H.B. 1639 seeks to address this issue by providing for a study regarding the increased risk of female-specific cancers amongst female firefighters facilitated by both the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Department of State Health Services.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1639 requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and using information from the state cancer registry, to conduct a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in Texas. The bill requires DSHS and TCFP, in conducting the study, to compare cancer rates among female firefighters in Texas to cancer rates among other women, focusing on cancers specific to women, including ovarian and breast cancer, and using registry information and data collected from readily available sources. The bill requires the following actions to be completed not later than September 1, 2026: DSHS to prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action; and DSHS and TCFP to make the report publicly available by posting the report on the agencies' and registry's respective websites. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that due to increased stress and various other factors, such as absorption of toxic chemicals, firefighters face an increased risk of various diseases, specifically increased risks of heart disease and cancer. The bill author has also informed the committee that studies on this topic have typically focused on the male firefighter population stemming from the lack of female firefighters in the fire service. The bill author has further informed the committee that the lack of research into female-related cancers among female firefighters disqualifies these cancers from being presumed under the worker's compensation system. H.B. 1639 seeks to address this issue by providing for a study regarding the increased risk of female-specific cancers amongst female firefighters facilitated by both the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Department of State Health Services.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1639 requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and using information from the state cancer registry, to conduct a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in Texas. The bill requires DSHS and TCFP, in conducting the study, to compare cancer rates among female firefighters in Texas to cancer rates among other women, focusing on cancers specific to women, including ovarian and breast cancer, and using registry information and data collected from readily available sources. The bill requires the following actions to be completed not later than September 1, 2026:
DSHS to prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action; and
DSHS and TCFP to make the report publicly available by posting the report on the agencies' and registry's respective websites.
The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.