| 1 | 1 | | 89R8087 KRM-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 975 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to a study on the prevalence and tracking of heat-related |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | deaths in this state. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "department" means the |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Department of State Health Services. |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | (b) The department, in collaboration with the Dell Medical |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | School at The University of Texas at Austin, shall conduct a study |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | on the prevalence of heat-related deaths and the ability of |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | counties to track those deaths. |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (c) In conducting the study, the department shall: |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (1) determine existing resources available to |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | counties to track heat-related deaths; |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (2) determine the resources necessary to assist |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | counties in preventing, tracking, and reporting heat-related |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | deaths; |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (3) identify barriers counties face in tracking and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | reporting heat-related deaths; and |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (4) gather any additional information necessary to |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | identify factors contributing to heat-related deaths and criteria |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | distinguishing a heat-related death from other natural causes of |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | death. |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (d) The department may collaborate with medical examiners |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | and other relevant personnel in conducting the study. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the department shall |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | house of representatives, and each standing legislative committee |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | with primary jurisdiction over public health and safety a written |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | report that includes: |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | (1) a summary of the results of the study conducted |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | under this section; and |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | (2) any recommendations for legislative or other |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | action. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (f) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|